Combatting the Noise Issue

By Sandra Merville Hart

 

A few family members came over to watch a movie this weekend. The dramatic story prompted a lot of discussion. I asked my nephew what he thought. His surprising answer was that the movie had a “noise” issue. He mentioned that an important scene beside the pool had no sounds of kids splashing or folks walking by engaged in conservation. Even a maintenance man watering a flower bed would have added authenticity. The only thing happening in the scene was vital dialogue.

His insightful comment sparked my writerly reflections. The same mistake happens in novels. Historical fiction writers who ignore all important news events surrounding their story create a “noise” issue.His surprising answer was that the movie had a noise issue. #Histfic #writing Share on X

We can’t live in today’s world without being affected by news. Local events can affect us directly, perhaps something like a nearby business burning down. Not only do we know and sympathize with the owner’s family, we have to find another store to fill our needs until it is rebuilt. Our town, the nearest city, and state happenings affect us. And even though we may not live in close proximity with national/international scene, these happenings can still crush our spirits.

Though news didn’t travel as quickly in earlier eras, folks were just as upset by troubling events as we are today. Perhaps they grew more distressed than us because we are accustomed to hearing bad news on television around the clock.

Even if the novel being written is more about the attitudes, fashions, and morals of a particular era, consider adding one or two newsworthy items of the day. A few hours or days of research may be enough to add gems of authenticity to the story.

That sounds like extra work if you’re already in the midst of writing but it doesn’t have to be a time hog.

Say, for example, that your novel is set in 1832. You don’t have a clue about what’s happening in the United States or even how many states there are. The Internet has greatly simplified our work.

Google “1832 American History.” This search gives options for Wikipedia sites for “1832 in the United States” and “Timeline of United States (1820-59).” Onthisday.com lists “1832—Historical Events—on this day.” Another site, America’s Best History, has a post for “U.S. History Timeline: the 1830s.”

Wikipedia’s timeline shows that the 1830s saw the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement. A bit of research about this may reveal that it is something that fits easily into your novel.

The Oregon Trail started being used by folks determined to settle in the Pacific Northwest in the 1830s. Maybe a character in your novel has a family member already on the trail.

The Black Hawk War occurred in 1832. Did it happen near your novel’s setting?

This was a presidential election year. Andrew Jackson was reelected as our nation’s president in 1832. I found some fun traditions that folks used to follow on election day and wrote about them on my blog. Depending on the timing, election celebrations could be a festive event in your novel.

The sites referenced above are a springboard for ideas. Research further on details that snag your interest. You never know what you will find when opening the pages of history.

Allowing our characters to interact with actual historical events opens up a fascinating world and adds authenticity. Readers find it easier to “step back in time” with you.

It is one more way to add scene “noise” that many readers crave.

 

Sources

“1832 in the United States,” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1832_in_the_United_States.

“Historical Events in 1832,” On This Day, 2017/01/23, http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1832.

“Timeline of United States history (1820-59),” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_history_(1820%E2%80%9359).

“U.S. Timeline: The 1830s, Conquering the West,” Americasbesthistory.com, 2017/01/23, http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1830.html.