Questions & Answers - How historically accurate is historical fiction?

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How historically accurate is historical fiction?

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
Forum Description: Ask any questions you have regarding NYC Midnight competitions here. We will answer as quickly as possible.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=43456
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:33am
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Topic: How historically accurate is historical fiction?

Posted By: ZoeLou
Subject: How historically accurate is historical fiction?
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 3:16am

Usually I wouldn't hesitate to go with a genre mashup but given NYCM's definition of hist fic is that it needs "believability" and "historically-accurate detail", I'm wondering: would I be DQ'd for adding a fantasy twist? My idea is something that wouldn't be noticed by the world at large and definitely wouldn't make it into a history book, so it'd fit reality's timeline, and I'm fully intending to include the right setting/outfit/dialogue details...

Just wanting to double check I'm safe before I start writing :)

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Replies:

Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 5:35am

I think you are free to do what you want in that respect, just be sure to make the historical bit unmistakable as a safeguard.

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