• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction

Fiction: Contemporary or Historical?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 16, 2015
Share
Tweet20
24

Recently I noted an article in a prestigious publishing journal that says readers are looking for more fiction. I hope the article is right! To narrow this down, we can look to historical versus contemporary, since many authors write both.

To clarify, for the purposes of this blog, I am limiting my discussion to traditional CBA trade book fare of strong stories heavy on romance. I am not discussing speculative works or set genres such as mass market romance or romantic suspense.

More than once when discussing fiction with authors, they have mentioned that their readers often don’t follow them from historical to contemporary or from contemporary to historical. Often they simply read one or the other, but not both, even when they enjoy a particular author.

Why?

I think readers of historical fiction in particular are looking to escape to a time they believe was simpler. (Personally, I’d rather buy chicken already packaged, place it in a modern oven and serve it, than run after a hapless chicken in the barnyard, catch it, wring the poor thing’s neck, pluck it, dress it, and then cook it over the uneven heat of an open fire. But maybe that’s just me.) And yes, I know several of you will comment on how you slaughter and prepare your own chickens. So maybe it is just me. But I live inside the city limits, and they don’t allow us to raise chickens on our property. Yeah. That’s it. I’ll go with that. Anyhooo….

Back then, Christian values were expected to be upheld, at least in public. Most people professed to be Christians or to uphold another faith tradition. Readers don’t have to suspend disbelief much to go along with Christian characters upholding our values in times that often seem glamorous through the thick lens of many moons past. You know, women wearing silk and hoops and all.

Writers of contemporary Christian books face the challenge of showing characters living out our faith, often against what seems to be increasingly hostile public opinion. These writers must show realistic characters that don’t seem odd or silly in light of what today’s readers know is reality. Also, novelists often approach their work with the idea of speaking about a tough issue. A balance of addressing the issue without bringing the reader down is a challenge that is extraordinary to undertake and then to master. I believe readers of contemporary fiction may be looking to think more than to escape.

Neither reader wants to have her time wasted, to be preached at, or to be talked down to. Both readers want to feel uplifted, entertained, and that the time spent reading also glorified the Lord.

Your turn:

Where is my opinion spot on?

What points did I miss?

Do you read both contemporary and historical fiction?

Do you prefer historical or contemporary fiction? Why?

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Career, Craft, Creativity, Genre, Get Published, Romance, TrendsTag: Contemporary Fiction, Genre, Historical Fiction

Is Your Novel Historical or Whimsy?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 9, 2013
Share
Tweet
39

As a proud native Virginian, I find it painful to read about the possibility that our early settlers may have practiced cannibalism when my state was but a mere colony. If you have been following the story, you have seen that much of the media presents conjecture as fact but at this point whether or not they resorted to cannibalism during the starving season is speculation. Speculation or not, the …

Read moreIs Your Novel Historical or Whimsy?
Category: Craft, Creativity, Genre, Historical, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Genre, Historical Fiction, Research

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media