How soon is too soon? - Page 2

RainingLemur · 09-23-2011, 03:32 PM

I generally like reading various takes on these types of events. So, to me, there isn't really a period of time that is required to pass before putting pen to paper about them.

Catlady · 09-23-2011, 05:19 PM

I was also thinking of true crime books, which are often rushed into print when there's a sensational case. Those often seem like exploitation and cashing in, and are at least a bit distasteful.

Andrew H. · 09-25-2011, 01:42 AM

"Casablanca" is set in December '41 and was released in Nov. '42; it doesn't seem to have suffered. (Yeah, it's a movie, but I'm not sure that makes much difference).

So I think that there is no *inherent* reason not to write a novel set in a location that has been the scene of recent events.

Although there may be other good reasons why you shouldn't set a novel there...such as the fact that we may still have so little knowledge of what's actually happened that the historical parts will be too generic, or else just be implausible.

carpetmojo · 09-25-2011, 06:39 AM

Beyond the "decency/good taste" issues, the validity of which I accept, I think the biggest problem regarding "too soon..." is the possibility [probability?] of later information changing the particulars in a major way - the obvious example is perhaps that of a murder case being resolved with the percieved guilt of the individual who was tried for the crime ; this individual then being pardoned because the conviction was found to be totally incorrect.
[Not much help if the death penalty is carried out, of course, as it is in some countries...]

This means the details of the work are not based on the exact truth, and may be completely incorrect - but if the work is fiction,or "based on" [ grrrr...

] it may not matter. [Basementary ?]

09-25-2011, 06:39 AM	#19
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Beyond the "decency/good taste" issues, the validity of which I accept, I think the biggest problem regarding "too soon..." is the possibility [probability?] of later information changing the particulars in a major way - the obvious example is perhaps that of a murder case being resolved with the percieved guilt of the individual who was tried for the crime ; this individual then being pardoned because the conviction was found to be totally incorrect. [Not much help if the death penalty is carried out, of course, as it is in some countries...] This means the details of the work are not based on the exact truth, and may be completely incorrect - but if the work is fiction,or "based on" [ grrrr...] it may not matter. [Basementary ?]

09-23-2011, 03:32 PM	#16
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I generally like reading various takes on these types of events. So, to me, there isn't really a period of time that is required to pass before putting pen to paper about them.

09-23-2011, 05:19 PM	#17
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I was also thinking of true crime books, which are often rushed into print when there's a sensational case. Those often seem like exploitation and cashing in, and are at least a bit distasteful.

09-25-2011, 01:42 AM	#18
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	"Casablanca" is set in December '41 and was released in Nov. '42; it doesn't seem to have suffered. (Yeah, it's a movie, but I'm not sure that makes much difference). So I think that there is no inherent reason not to write a novel set in a location that has been the scene of recent events. Although there may be other good reasons why you shouldn't set a novel there...such as the fact that we may still have so little knowledge of what's actually happened that the historical parts will be too generic, or else just be implausible.

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