Telling True Stories

Target audience and the publishing world

2015-12-05T16:48:00.001-08:00

Anne Boleyn was an important figure in history as she was the first woman to capture Henry’s interest so much that, a battle to overrun the church was started so that he could annul his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon. It changed the situation for women in England, meaning that any woman could be overturned. It was the first step in Henry’s journey of making women he fancied Queen of England – all in the gain of trying to have a son. She was also the first wife to be beheaded, though not the last and this would appeal to an audience passionate about history or simply having a loose interest in it. Anne’s story is compelling and the mystery around her accusations will draw in this type of audience..

This would also work in the publishing world as it would be a different take on her story – from my view and from my own research. People interested in history and this time would automatically be interested in the type of writing and therefor become a target for publishing companies. It could possibly appeal to anyone interested in the royal family, as she was a part of aristocracy and would appeal to students or Secondary school students studying this part of history, therefor sparking interest in the publishing world for this target audience.

Issues

2015-12-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

One of the issues that seems to come up when beginning to write this true story, is how much my creative side wants to just write and write – whether what I’m saying is true or not. There is a lack of dialogue in my research, as this is an aspect hard to find within historical study with this time period. This brings the itching urge to write something in its place, when that would be inaccurate. What dialogue I have found, I have stretched and used to my advantage but feel it is lacking.

Another issue that arose, was creating my writing to be a story rather than only facts. I didn’t want my story to sound like a history book and in order to overcome this, I needed to build detail. I needed to focus more on dramatizing the writing. For example, I knew that when Anne is taken to the Privy Council, she is interrupted while watching a tennis match. I wanted to write about the reactions of people around her when it happens, or how people are acting before it happens, but there wasn’t much I could find. This left me to interpret the moments on my own, putting myself in the situation of someone around the Queen when she realises that she is about to fall from her position. I’m still telling the story and it’s true, however I’m using descriptions and my own mind to build up the scene.

Strategy

2015-11-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

The main strategy that I have been looking into is the simple idea of building scene. I’ve been researching people around Anne Boleyn and her locations, so that I can build up the picture within my writing. The scenes, and their backgrounds will stay true to history however I needed to know the details. Albeit small details, they help to develop an engaging story. For example, her appearance and the appearance of her destinations. The rooms of the tower. Greenwhich, the place she was arrested – it had maze like shrubbery outside the large structure and had well-kept gardens. Or even the place where her daughter stayed while all of this was happening. I want to use descriptions within the true story to carry it out and build scene.

Anne’s appearance would of course become something vital to my story. After research I found that the legend of ‘Anne's Appearance’ was that she had a sixth finger and a large mole on her neck that would have been noted as a beauty mark. A quote from an Ambassador said she was ‘not one of the handsomest women in the world’ but was considered moderately pretty. She was of average height and had small breasts with an elegant neck. Her skin was a dark, olive colour and she had thick dark brown hair to match. Her eyes were a deep brown that could appear black and often did. It was said that ‘Those large dark eyes were often singled out in descriptions of Anne. She clearly used them, and the fascination they aroused, to her advantage whenever possible’.

With my strategy I also had to think about the lack of information I had. I had enough for the few scenes I wanted to cover – but what about the other events? For example, where was her brother when he was arrested? Or how about background knowledge before she was in Henry’s view. These were things I could also look at to fuel the story I was telling.

The men surrounding Anne's scandal

2015-11-16T15:01:00.003-08:00

With my research, I found that what I was lacking with in Anne Boleyn's story is information on the people surrounding her. In order to tell her story, I needed to know more about the people who had a play in the scandal surrounding her name. I started with Thomas Cromwell, of course having a dominant role in the journey to Anne's rolling head. It has been said that Cromwell was 'as great a statesman as England has ever seen and, in his decade of power, permanently changed the course of English history'. Cromwell was a level-headed, manipulative man who knew what he wanted and I have found many articles and websites that claim Cromwell and Anne to be in some kind of disagreement.

Her brother, Lord Rochford was a prime and important suspect. To be accused of adultery with your own brother was a scandal kept on the lips of the people. He was accused of being responsible for Anne’s last miscarriage, stated that they became desperate to produce a male heir. Jane Parker, his wife, spoke badly of her husband in court – suggesting that she believed the rumours. It has been said that on the day of arrest, Anne asked where her ‘sweet brother’ was and of course, didn’t know at the time that he had been arrested. He was in the Tower of London already. George was tried on the 15th of May, on the same day that Anne had already been found guilty. He was executed along with Mark Smeaton and the other four.

I wanted to also look further into Mark Smeaton – the only man to confess to adultery with Anne. Smeaton was an old friend of Anne and her brother. A talented musician – his skill led Smeaton to enter court, therefor meaning that he would have close relations to Anne and the King. Mark Smeaton was talented in singing, dancing and of course, educated with instruments and was in Henry’s favour for a very long time. He had even been granted his own servants. He was later accused of sleeping with Anne. I discovered various information on these men from books and websites, as their own stories are easily in my reach.

Event, Characters and Case

2015-10-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

Anne Boleyn and her story has stood out to me the most and after my research, particularly into her death, my decision was made. It was striking to me that she accepted her fate and acted different from Henry’s other wives when her life was to end. In some of my research she has been portrayed as a brave and intelligent woman. From her speech before she met the sword, to the way she acted on the day - Anne Boleyn was a fierce and composed woman, despite all the scandal linked to her name.

Anne captured Henry’s eyes quickly. At first there was the intention of being a mistress but eventually she became Queen after he annulled his previous marriage. It has been said that he wrote love letters to her, some still remaining in the Vatican library. Their relationship progressed until she was Queen of England and eventually broke and disintegrated as she couldn’t conceive a son (Henry is famous for his desperate desire for this) and, as she was accused of so many scandalous things, she fell from her position. She made enemies at court, Particularly, Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chief minister and the man responsible for annulling his previous marriage. Cromwell was important to Henry, and soon helped with the downfall of Anne.

On April 30, 1536, Anne's musician and friend for several years, Mark Smeaton, was arrested and likely tortured into making 'revelations' about the Queen. Next, Sir Henry Norris was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Then the Queen's own brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford was arrested. There wasn’t any coming back from that.

On May 2nd she was arrested at Greenwhich and taken to the tower. On Monday the 15th, the Queen and her brother were put on trial at the Great Hall of the Tower of London. Around 2000 people attended. After the research I had my key characters - Thomas Cromwell being highly important, the other men accused and of course Henry.

Initial ideas - mystery and scandal

2015-10-06T01:55:00.001-07:00

To tell a true story I believe that you yourself have to have a high level of interest in your subject to keep the narrative going. With the True Story that I will be telling, I wanted to choose a subject that I enjoyed - a story that would capture my attention quickly and keep it there with a vice like grip. I wanted to look into mystery and scandal within a certain time period and what better than Tudor England? The dress, the parties, the stories, the misfortunes and of course - the scandal. Who doesn't know at least something about Henry V11 and his many wives? Or the many victories and loses in the battles at the time? With the time period, there are accusations and twists behind almost all stories.

I have recently found a love for recreations of Tudor stories, whether that be writing or shows. When recently watching the show 'Reign' focusing on Mary Queen of Scots, as she was a person in history I could look into. I researched some reviews and to say the least, I was shocked. Viewers were outraged by the inaccuracy of the story telling, and this made me think about my approach. I was going to tell a story based around someone in this time, but I was going to use my research to have my facts right.

I had vague ideas in the beginning, looking into The Princes in the Tower, Mary Queen Of Scots, Catherine of Aragon, and the accusations thrown at her or perhaps the wife that always stayed in my mind – Anne Boleyn. I don’t remember why exactly her name always stuck out, but perhaps it was because she was accused of so many scandalous things. The famous Boleyn that fell from grace. In 1536 Anne was arrested on charges of adultery with five men including her own brother, Lord George Rochford. At the trial she was accused of adultery and witchcraft. Of course, within those times that would have been a large scandal that Anne wouldn't get away from, and the perfect excuse for Henry to be rid of her. It's the perfect True Story that goes with the theme I have chosen.