1. whitelighter27

    whitelighter27 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2015
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0

    Dates in fictional stories

    Discussion in 'Setting Development' started by whitelighter27, Mar 19, 2016.

    I was wondering if there was some general rule in writing fiction not to use dates that could have ever actually occurred - for instance, in one novel I'm reading, it states that Aug. 17, 1989 was a Thursday, when it was actually a Wednesday. Is there a reason for this - kind of like the 555 phone # rule in tv or movies - or is this more likely just an oversight on the writer's part?
     
  2. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2014
    Messages:
    4,406
    Likes Received:
    4,755
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Hmmm. I try to keep my dates accurate. In fact, I was getting a kick out of the fact that up until Leap Year Day, my novel's days and dates and the days and dates for 2015 - early 2016 were the same.

    Does the author in question get the days and dates accurate in the rest of the book? Or are they consistently off?
     
  3. whitelighter27

    whitelighter27 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2015
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    So far I haven't found any other reference to a specific date, & I haven't read any of his other novels. So would you guess there is no such rule?
     
  4. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Messages:
    1,667
    Likes Received:
    1,527
    Think it is a minor mistake. I have never gone back and date checked something!
     
  5. X Equestris

    X Equestris Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2015
    Messages:
    2,595
    Likes Received:
    3,186
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    I think it's an oversight. Personally, if I have to use a real date, I look it up. They aren't too hard to find through Internet search engines.
     
  6. Feo Takahari

    Feo Takahari Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Messages:
    304
    Likes Received:
    282
    Location:
    Just above the treetops
    It's an error with a lengthy pedigree, at least. I've seen people conclude that no time period makes sense for when Oliver Twist could take place based on the days of the week and month it mentions.
     
  7. TheRealStegblob

    TheRealStegblob Kill All Mages Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2016
    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    291
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Definitely not. The reason the '555' thing exists is because, I'm not kidding, they want to avoid using anything that could possibly be real because people actually call numbers they see in shows and movies "to see if it's real". As there's no real equivalency to using calendar dates, there's likely no reason you couldn't use past dates that actually existed.
     
  8. JLT

    JLT Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2016
    Messages:
    1,857
    Likes Received:
    2,235
    I've never heard of any deliberate policy on that. My personal inclination would be to get the date and day synched with a perpetual calendar.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice