Historical Fiction Category?

[Filosofieke]

I have written an Historical Fantasy series that I start uploading on Tapas tomorrow. The setting is the Roman Empire, Gaul to be specific, and while the fantasy element is definitely present and plays a significant role in the plot, I find that people are often first drawn in because they like reading Historical Fiction.

Question: are there other authors around here that would like a Historical Fiction category? Why/Why not? And if you are a Historical Fiction writer, how have you categorized your novel?

(I picked Fantasy as my main category, and I have action and LGBTQ+ as secondary categories myself).

[EdenY]

I would love to have a historical fiction section!! I was actually wondering why Tapas doesn't have one right now because I think there are a lot works that would fall under that genre already (mostly combined with fantasy).

[MonicaBGuerra]

It would definitely be a welcome addition. Fantasy and Historic share nothing but the faintest similarities, and it's always good to know exactly what kind of book we're getting as readers, and to appeal to our core audience as writers!

[joannekwan]

I love historical fantasy and fiction! It's my favorite to read in print.

Unfortunately at this time, I'm unsure if there is enough material on Tapas that can fall into that category balanced with a large enough reader base seeking it out to warrant making a new genre selection for it. We're still championing Paranormal to be added for goodness sake.

I've got my own historical fantasy with the genres romance, fantasy, and drama. But I have 'historical' as one of its series tags. And series tags can be sifted for in the search bar. So that's the best we've got for now.

(mine's currently 6th in this list)

[Filosofieke]

Yes, I mean I still have the fantasy element, but it's the same with historical action, really. People either love a historical setting or they don't and it seems to be a defining factor. So it would help readers take their pick.

[Filosofieke]

Yes that could definitely help! I had 'history' as a tag, but I think most people would type 'historical' if they were searching, so I have changed it, thanks for the tip!

In general I love a dash of fantasy in a realistic setting (I'm reading an urban fantasy set in contemporary London right now). So that's my gig. I feel that people often have epic fantasy in mind when you select it as a main genre. While I do love that you can select three genres for your novel, I would have picked Historical as a main category, with fantasy and lgbtq+ in the follow up.

[domisotto]

I find that most people do not really write historic fiction, but instead do fantasy. Sometimes as little as simply having a king makes them say that it is a historic fiction, even though it has nothing to do with history.

So, unless there is a subdivision of fantasy—izekai and paranormal to start with—splitting out historical fiction will only cause confusion.

Usually, people who go for historic fiction on-line are looking for bodice rippers in a few popular settings, like Regency or Victorian or French Revolution vs fantasy or alternative history.

My regency on Wattpad goes under romance where it really belong, and my historic mystery if I ever finish it will go under mystery, because to make plot easier I used a paranormal element of clairvoyance that disqualifies it as a historic fiction under Wattpad rules of genre selection.

Imo, it is actually very hard to qualify as solid historic fiction, with a full exclusion of speculative element, good dating and a grasp on the setting.

[Leverance]

Are there other authors around here that would like a Historical Fiction category?

Yes, I would love to have it! I've planned in the future of a Boylove in the setting of the Roman Empire. And another of a Girllove with a setting during the Viking raids, including the romance of a Viking and a Nun (something I rarely see, even in Girllove books). I already have a bunch of research books for my Girllove Historical Fiction I will write in the future.

And if you are a Historical Fiction writer, how have you categorized your novel?

Though, unfortunately, the genre doesn't exist on Tapas as of right now. I think I would put it in the GL category and Action.

[KhanSpring]

Yes, I feel like it could be a nice addition.
My novel is fantasy and takes place in lands I made up, however said lands are inspired by real life history and places. And that is also of importance to the plot.
History, the way we twist it for our own purposes and why should accept both the good and bad our ancestors did and learn from it, whether it be to take inspiration or not commit the same mistakes is part of the themes.

Dennica (Daystar) | Tapas

[Filosofieke]

Ha,

I would definitely agree that 'a king' doesn't make for a historical setting, but I know several writers with a very firm grasp on their time period of choice. Ancient Gaul is, for me, very ingrained in my home culture, I studied Latin, I did a thesis on a work set in the time period...

Most historical writers I know do have a preferred setting because the research involved is extensive. But it's a well-known genre for readers in print, so I don't feel like the confusion would be huge. For me, the line between 'inspired on' and an actual historical setting is quite clear. You have real historical figures featuring in historical fiction (for example emperors and such) whereas in fantasy inspired on these leaders would be fictional.

Also, Tapas not having a Historical Category has kept me from posting here for years. I only started posting when I had a contemporary romance. So it might very well be that other writers specializing in the genre decided this was not the place for them either. I like Tapas as a site a lot, so I'm going to test out the waters anyway.

[Filosofieke]

A Viking and a Nun! Now that is interesting! Historical research is fun, though even a simple dinner has sometimes set my back for days of research.

[Filosofieke]

If the lands are made up, then I think the main genre would have to be fantasy, because the general expectation with historical is to depart from the real lands of that area.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan is the first Fantasy inspired by real life history that I can think of (and I love that series!). You easily recognize the inspiration sources but it's still a fiction world. I do think a historical tag would be good for it (since her taking inspiration from history definitely drew me in) but I would definitely classify it as fantasy!

[KhanSpring]

I did pick fantasy as the main genre but I struggled with deciding the others.
A fantasy in a real life history setting that I really enjoyed reading was the Winternight trilogy by Catherine Arden. It wasn't the generic Western Europe inspired fantasy and because my work is also inspired by Slavic mythology it gave me a further push to start posting my work.

[Leverance]

Yup! It will show the cultural differences and the conflicts that make (it will also have an intricate political plot as well). Definitely! I've been interested in history since I was very young; it's a bummer Tapas doesn't have the Historical Fiction genre.

[domisotto]

But it's a well-known genre for readers in print, so I don't feel like the confusion would be huge.

On-line audience and those who read in print are different. Mystery, for example, is a genre that does exceptionaly well in print, but not on-line.

The sites that have historical fiction category get a lot of fantasy in them. Wattpad, for example, was very firm back when they had forums that speculative element save for the time travel (not sure why) cannot be used in books with the primary genre of historical fiction.

It is easier to search on tags for specific period (Regency will certainly return mostly Regency books, but not Victorian; Victorian will be mostly fantasy/punk/paranormal genres)--and you can do the same on tapas.

I don't think the lack of genre should stop you (or anyone) from posting! You are writing fantasy--yes, historic one, but nonetheless, fantasy. Just like urban fantasy is still fantasy.

Drama is one category that is natural fit for Historic Dramas, or Action for Adventure-based story or Romance if romance is central, for example, and def will let you have speculative element.

The fewer genres on Tapas is an advantage, based on how it presents novels and how many readers are out there, how many books is posted per hour.

[domisotto]

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan is the first Fantasy inspired by real life history that I can think of (and I love that series!)

Have you tried Guy Gavriel Kay? His fantasy is all (save for Fionavar) an alternative history with a slight fantasy overlay.

[Filosofieke]

Not yet! (and my to be read pile is huge, but it sounds interesting).

I like the feature of being able to pick extra genres (main genre, two extra's), but I do think a few extra 'secondary' genres at least would be nice. I don't like epic fantasy as much as for example urban or historical...paranormal feels a lot like fantasy to me, but since I am not a fan of ghost stories (too scary, lol) I'm not in a good place to judge and I do see the difference with 'regular' fantasy.

We have a lot of historical comics back in Belgium, which often feature a small element of fantasy (like druids, are already a fantasy element, people believed they did magic, I don't believe that, so to me them doing magic is: fantasy), Otherwise these are very history-oriented stories (and getting your dates wrong on them would be a huge no no, people pick that apart.). The Asterix comics by Réné Goscinny and Albert Uderzo are an example. Historians specialized in the time period devour those. Of course, Ancient History does leave more wriggle room to work with, over let's say the 1920's.

For me, when it appeals to history fans (who also have a big interest in non-fiction about a certain time period) it feels better off classified as historical. When it appeals more to fantasy fans, and the time period is only used as inspiration, it's fantasy.

Of course, whatever way leads to Rome (lol). As long as I reach the people who might enjoy the series it's all good to me.

[domisotto]

Of course, whatever way leads to Rome (lol). As long as I reach the people who might enjoy the series it's all good to me.

You will, fantasy section is slow-enough moving that people who browse fresh can pick the brand of fantasy they like. Fantasy has a huge number of subgenres, and people go into it knowing that there is a lot of versatility. Again, consider drama as well, because historical drama is a popular, distinctive genre, and some readers are probably checking that section for it.

It is also very easy to switch between categories, to see where you get more readership. I did it all the time with my second book

[blackorchid]

Yes, feed me other time periods, please. PLEASE.

I am so tried of reading 'medieval fantasy', and I say that as someone who LOVES Medieval things. Hell, I was reading carols and fableaux in Middle English and in various dialects at a point in my life. I was absorbed in everything about it. I'm just ready for a change.

I have books in the work that are the 1780s, the 1890s, and somewhere in the Renaissance.

I don't think I marked mine as historical b/c it is a fantasy setting and world, but I've tried to make sure that I mentioned distinct markers that people would identify with.

For instance, if I say Big Hair, Wide Dress, and Tricorne hats, you should have a vague idea of where I am. (I hope)

I am in DRAMA, FANTASY, ROMANCE --but that's because I'm aiming for a Gothic Romance vibe with elements of magic and subplot romances. I love a good subplot romance. It's dark and moody and a little bit macabre.

[foxnflames]

I think the great thing about historical fiction is that it’s still flexible enough that you can put it anywhere. I’m not sure how many stories on tapas would fall into that category to warrant them adding it (I’d rather see a suspense/thriller category first), but tags (if people search) may suffice for now.

I’m loving seeing other creators who write historical fiction my first series is set in the Stone Age and I’m glad people enjoy it and hope it’s a refreshing take on light historical fantasy for them. My new series is set in the 1920s and I can’t wait to see its reception