Where do I put "history" material?

[Arokthis (imported)]

I have about 1/2 a dozen stories partially outlined, but I have a problem: each has some "historical information" that needs to be known, and the info can be a bit long. Where should I put said material? If I put it at the begining I worry that the reader will get halfway through and say "The story's not worth all this crap." On the other hand, if I put it in the middle, it becomes a major departure from the story that makes one go as they try to figure out what's going on as they go back and forth betwen story and info. What should I do?

[Kortpeel (imported)]

I have about 1/2 a dozen stories partially outlined, but I have a problem: each has some "historical information" that needs to be known, and the info can be a bit long. Where should I put said material? If I put it at the begining I worry that the reader will get halfway through and say "The story's not worth all this crap." On the other hand, if I put it in the middle, it becomes a major departure from the story that makes one go as they try to figure out what's going on as they go back and forth betwen story and info. What should I do?

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Hi Arokthis,

One way to do it is as dialogue: one character in the story explaining it to another. You can dribble in the historic info as some action proceeds. That way it doesn't seem too artificial or forced.

Keep it to a minimum though. It's meant to be entertaining rather than a history lesson.

Regards

Kortpeel

[JesusA (imported)]

Any real historical material can, of course, also be posted on the NONfiction Board. While the fiction part of the Archive is, by far, the most read section, there are some who seldom, if ever, look at the stories.

[Paolo]

If you're posting it in pure literary/historical form, then the NonFiction board is the place. If you are putting it into a story, then try and integrate it into the plotline without it reading like a history book.

[Arokthis (imported)]

What if I just put one of the "starters" up, and you tell me what I should do.

The stuff I'm talking about is what some would call back-story. Some stories have "this is why things are the way they are" material, such as a war, a disease, etc. Now do you know what I'm talking about?

[Paolo]

You should put the whole thing together and post it to the Story Archive. It looks interesting.

[Arokthis (imported)]

You should put the whole thing together and post it to the Story Archive. It looks interesting.

Say what??

[Paolo]

You should put the whole thing together and post it to the Story Archive. It looks interesting.

If the attached text file is the whole story, it looks incomplete.

You should put the whole thing,

story and historical references together, and submit it as a complete story. What is here does sound very interesting and like a good read. I'm sorry the reply made no sense to you. Another post or an email would have gotten a faster response, too.

[Classy Bitch (imported)]

To "bitch" is bad?

... CB cries!

[Arokthis (imported)]

If the attached text file is the whole story, it looks incomplete.

You should put the whole thing,

story and historical references together, and submit it as a complete story. What is here does sound very interesting and like a good read. I'm sorry the reply made no sense to you. Another post or an email wo

uld have gotten a faster response, too.



No, it is not the whole story. As I said, I have a bunch of stories started that get bogged down in the "history" involved. I'm not at the point of asking someone to write it for me, but I'm getting close. If would love it if someone could take what I've got so far and do some cut-and-paste work on it to show me what to do. I am seriously aking for help!