* Focus on human experiences: Both genres explore the human condition, focusing on characters' emotions, relationships, and challenges. They aim to portray real-life struggles, triumphs, and complexities.
* Plausible scenarios: Both genres strive for believability, even if they depict fictional events. The characters and situations presented in both genres should feel relatable and plausible, regardless of the time period.
* Exploration of themes: Both realistic and historical fiction explore universal themes like love, loss, family, friendship, identity, and social issues. These themes resonate with readers regardless of the specific historical setting.
* Character development: Both genres emphasize character development, showcasing how characters evolve, learn, and change through their experiences. The reader should gain insight into the characters' motivations, desires, and flaws.
However, there are also key differences:
* Setting: Realistic fiction typically takes place in the present day or the recent past, whereas historical fiction is set in a specific period in the past.
* Historical accuracy: Historical fiction aims for accuracy in depicting the social, political, and cultural aspects of the chosen historical period. Realistic fiction does not require such accuracy.
* Research: Historical fiction often involves extensive research into the chosen period to ensure historical accuracy. Realistic fiction may require some research, but it focuses more on creating believable characters and scenarios.
In essence, both genres aim to create engaging narratives that explore the human condition. While realistic fiction focuses on contemporary experiences, historical fiction uses the past to shed light on timeless themes and human nature.