Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi → Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan
In 413, you're probably looking at Byzantium and the Germanic world as Rome falls away from the picture. Ideally, events in the intros, book to book, will have some continuity and some variation.
First rule of writing an Epic:
Never define your story as Epic. Always let someone else do that for you!
Right. You let your editor and book designer or cover artist do it for you!
I'd allow about 180 words, less than a page, painting a rough picture of the world. I ran in a lot of items, but I think four might do it. You don't need or want to go into any depth on any of them.
There's no point diving into Britain, since the story will take that over. Instead describe the neighborhood, as it were, and end by turning, with a one-sentence teaser, to Britain.
You might set the scene in a town by mentioning the church, the town hall, the country doctor's house, and the newspaper office above the drugstore. Ellery Queen does this for Wrightsville in some of the Wrightsville novels, and at some length. (I'm recalling, I think, =Double Double=, one of the 'return to ...' stories.) But this doesn't need the depth, because it's just creating a sense of the world.
Why not try lining up three or four summary items and seeing how it reads? Try for fifteen to 25 words each, between three and six proper nouns in each? You know the history, I don't.
Ah! I think I see!
Focus on the world stage to paint a picture of the times.
I'll have to work on that...
Thanks!
First rule of writing an Epic:
Never define your story as Epic. Always let someone else do that for you!Right. You let your editor and book designer or cover artist do it for you!
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
First rule of writing an Epic:
Never define your story as Epic. Always let someone else do that for you!Right. You let your editor and book designer or cover artist do it for you!
Nope, not even then. Only after it's a series on HBO with world-famous actors! 
What if the word "epic" is in the title?
They deserve to be hit by lightning?
Rebecca, regarding American and proper English spelling, British spelling have been around long before American spelling, is my only reason. Having said that, it's not a hard and fast rule, since American spelling is acceptable especially if the target readers are from the States. I have seen Regency Romance novels using both. So I think you're good, as long as you keep it consistent, which I think you are (although I only noticed you use American spelling today for the first time, so clearly it's a massive problem, not!).
Rebecca, regarding American and proper English spelling, British spelling have been around long before American spelling, is my only reason. Having said that, it's not a hard and fast rule, since American spelling is acceptable especially if the target readers are from the States. I have seen Regency Romance novels using both. So I think you're good, as long as you keep it consistent, which I think you are (although I only noticed you use American spelling today for the first time, so clearly it's a massive problem, not!).
I suppose it makes sense to try to use something that is older. But I have written "kidnapped" in my stories only to have readers want it replaced with the more modern "abducted," so I'm not sure the age of a word or age of the spelling of a word really matters. I don't know. I have always used American English Spelling, so I'll just stick with that.
janet reid wrote:Rebecca, regarding American and proper English spelling, British spelling have been around long before American spelling, is my only reason. Having said that, it's not a hard and fast rule, since American spelling is acceptable especially if the target readers are from the States. I have seen Regency Romance novels using both. So I think you're good, as long as you keep it consistent, which I think you are (although I only noticed you use American spelling today for the first time, so clearly it's a massive problem, not!).
I suppose it makes sense to try to use something that is older. But I have written "kidnapped" in my stories only to have readers want it replaced with the more modern "abducted," so I'm not sure the age of a word or age of the spelling of a word really matters. I don't know. I have always used American English Spelling, so I'll just stick with that.
I'd ignore those comments and use the archaic form (but that's me) ... I've had a few reviews that insisted I should correct spelling mistakes - I used it as an opportunity to inform otherwise. It's been a while too.
Then, one reviewer (Amy), but I won't mention any names, has actually picked up one word that I thought was Middle English, but she said was modern, and she turned out to be right (I still don't know how the hell she did that, it's scary!). I changed that word to something more Middle English. So yes, I'm sensitive to using archaic words rather than modern words - but it's to give it that 'feeling' more than I have to.
But yeah, I think in your case, you can justify it if you're aiming for the USA demographic, so you're good, I think. (but then again, what do I know, right?!) 
I like your use of words! I think it fits with your stories perfectly!
Janet, you said, "Then, one reviewer (Amy), but I won't mention any names, has actually picked up one word that I thought was Middle English, but she said was modern, and she turned out to be right (I still don't know how the hell she did that, it's scary!"
You just need to go camping with me for about four days at the Pennsic War. I can't say how much I've learned from this particular group of people. I camp with a nuclear scientist, a person who writes professional opera in Europe, a college professor, three doctors, and an assortment of other people who have all done more research than I can list. One in particular is one of the top five most knowlegable people (in the world) on glove construction throughout the middle ages. One does card weaving. One makes his own dyes out of various herbals. One paints professionally. More than one leads the fighters so I can learn about troop movements. One is an archery marshall.
All of them are cooks. You should see the meals these nuts can cook over an open fire. They are the ones who taught me how to cook for eighty to a hundred of my closest friends. We have a bread oven (that we put together each year) for making fresh bread, pizza, and cookies.
All you have to do is sit there and listen. I've sat by a fire and listened to people tell Norse ballads, gone to dance exhibitions, taken my son to do children's dance, gone to classes on calligraphy, medicine in the middle ages, and (fill in the blank). Some of my group like to read Middle English aloud, so I've kind of got the meter in my head.
For what it is worth, Rebecca...you would be another person who would revel in this place. You can specialize in a time period, wear the clothes, weave the fabric...or you can buy the stuff.
Oh, did I mention the shopping? Oh...my...God...
Here is a website. Look at the picture album link on the first page. You'll see what I mean.
pennsic.net
Janet, you said, "Then, one reviewer (Amy), but I won't mention any names, has actually picked up one word that I thought was Middle English, but she said was modern, and she turned out to be right (I still don't know how the hell she did that, it's scary!"
You just need to go camping with me for about four days at the Pennsic War. I can't say how much I've learned from this particular group of people. I camp with a nuclear scientist, a person who writes professional opera in Europe, a college professor, three doctors, and an assortment of other people who have all done more research than I can list. One in particular is one of the top five most knowlegable people (in the world) on glove construction throughout the middle ages. One does card weaving. One makes his own dyes out of various herbals. One paints professionally. More than one leads the fighters so I can learn about troop movements. One is an archery marshall.
All of them are cooks. You should see the meals these nuts can cook over an open fire. They are the ones who taught me how to cook for eighty to a hundred of my closest friends. We have a bread oven (that we put together each year) for making fresh bread, pizza, and cookies.
All you have to do is sit there and listen. I've sat by a fire and listened to people tell Norse ballads, gone to dance exhibitions, taken my son to do children's dance, gone to classes on calligraphy, medicine in the middle ages, and (fill in the blank). Some of my group like to read Middle English aloud, so I've kind of got the meter in my head.
For what it is worth, Rebecca...you would be another person who would revel in this place. You can specialize in a time period, wear the clothes, weave the fabric...or you can buy the stuff.
Oh, did I mention the shopping? Oh...my...God...
Here is a website. Look at the picture album link on the first page. You'll see what I mean.
pennsic.net
Can I come camping with you? Seriously. This sounds like soooo much fun! lol
-Elisheva
Consider yourself invited. It's a hike, but in the past, those who live far away fly in to Cleveland (or Pittsburgh) and have someone pick them up. I'd be honored to meet you, Elishiva. The whole shibang lasts 2 weeks at the beginning of August. I'll get a tent for you and try to find you some garb. That way, you won't feel like a fish out of water :-)
Same to you, Janet, and your boys. And husband, if he could be lured to join us. Did I mention that my group brews their own beer?
Same to you, Rebecca.
Kenny can't come because he doesn't have a passport.
NJC can't come because he needs to stay a mystery. (Though he does owe me a cup of coffee :-)
Rebecca, you said, "The archers are not shooting because the soldiers are fighting hand to hand. They could not risk shooting their own men in such a mess. This is why Drech picks the one archer whom he knows is a marksman. I'll try to explain that better."
Here is my issue. You have a shield wall with locked shields and spears/ swords poking above and through the breaks in the wall. You have organized ranks of fighters...like eight deep...adding reinforcement to the front line. So far, the lines are intact, so the rival is bunched in even ranks.
This is not hand-to-hand in the strict definition. It isn't a melee where everything is just chaos and archers can't shoot without risking hitting their own.
So...
The opposing shield wall is locked and pressing against Drech's shield wall. How can this archer shoot through eight-thick ranks of men, penetrating through a break in the shield wall, and then hitting the opposing side? While standing on ground level and without elevation? Unless the fighters in the back ranks are using their shields to cover their heads (like the Greeks did in the movie 300), then the back ranks are both vulnerable and accessible because the archer has to elevate his bow to go over the heads of his own team and then drop the arrow into the massed enemy.
Rebecca, you said, "The archers are not shooting because the soldiers are fighting hand to hand. They could not risk shooting their own men in such a mess. This is why Drech picks the one archer whom he knows is a marksman. I'll try to explain that better."
Here is my issue. You have a shield wall with locked shields and spears/ swords poking above and through the breaks in the wall. You have organized ranks of fighters...like eight deep...adding reinforcement to the front line. So far, the lines are intact, so the rival is bunched in even ranks.
This is not hand-to-hand in the strict definition. It isn't a melee where everything is just chaos and archers can't shoot without risking hitting their own.
So...
The opposing shield wall is locked and pressing against Drech's shield wall. How can this archer shoot through eight-thick ranks of men, penetrating through a break in the shield wall, and then hitting the opposing side? While standing on ground level and without elevation? Unless the fighters in the back ranks are using their shields to cover their heads (like the Greeks did in the movie 300), then the back ranks are both vulnerable and accessible because the archer has to elevate his bow to go over the heads of his own team and then drop the arrow into the massed enemy.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! Don't talk about 300! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ok, I'm ok. I'm ok.
Perhaps my error is in the description. Neither the soldiers nor the Angle warriors are not eight deep. They are only about four deep. This is about three and a half feet for either side (three and a half feet for the Britannae and three and a half for the Angles.) Beyond that is many feet of space. If all of the archers shot they would have to shoot very high to get the arrows over their own men (which is risky) but not so far as the arrows would pass over enemy and be wasted.
One of the reasons the medieval kings had to order hundreds of thousands of arrows to be made is that most ended up stuck in the ground because of random shooting. Drech isn't a medieval ruler/general, as he was brought up with the Roman precision warfare training. He would not tell the archers to shoot when he knows that for most of the men, their arrows would end up in their own soldiers or stuck in the ground and wasted. There are other times where Drech tells all of the archers to shoot, but that is because the enemy is spread out before them or their is space between the enemy and their own men, making the risk of killing their own a none-issue.
Sorry the scene ended up being so confusing. 
I will try to go into much more detail as to the layout and Drech's judgment/choices so that it is more clear.
One of the reasons the medieval kings had to order hundreds of thousands of arrows to be made is that most ended up stuck in the ground because of random shooting.
For what it's worth, I can vouch for this.
For what it's doubly worth, even 8 deep (7 feet deep per side in other words) would not really improve the situation ... I think.
No plot slaying! Just my lack of description in a battle scene.
(Unless you were talking about 300?)
No plot slaying! Just my lack of description in a battle scene.
(Unless you were talking about 300?)
I thought we're not allowed to mention 300 ...... My husband made me watch, I swear!
Rebecca Vaughn wrote:No plot slaying! Just my lack of description in a battle scene.
(Unless you were talking about 300?)
I thought we're not allowed to mention 300 ...... My husband made me watch, I swear!
I blame my husband too!
Ironically he hated it almost as much as I did! I got back at him by making him watch The Princess Frog
janet reid wrote:Rebecca Vaughn wrote:No plot slaying! Just my lack of description in a battle scene.
(Unless you were talking about 300?)
I thought we're not allowed to mention 300 ...... My husband made me watch, I swear!
I blame my husband too!
Ironically he hated it almost as much as I did! I got back at him by making him watch The Princess Frog
Mine loved it. Had to watch the sequel 300 'something' too ... I got him back by making him watch "The Other Woman". That went well until Kate Upton started running around in a tiny bikini on the beach *sigh*
Hahahahahaha!
Mine insisted that the sequel was better and tried to get me to watch it with him. So I listed all of the historical inaccuracies in the first one until he left me alone! Bwahahahahahahahaha!
I agree that the film was rife with inaccuracies, but the beefcake was nice to watch. I found it thought-provoking to learn about Thermopylae. Our entire civilization would be a very different place if the Persians hadn't chosen 1) that site to land, 2) that pass as a choke point, and 3) 300 men hadn't been standing in the way. As far as significant-globe-changing-battles, that one is certainly near the top of the list. That, and the battle of Marathon.
Here is a site I liked. http://ancientgreekbattles.net/Pages/48 … opylae.htm
Don't know how much more accurate it is than others, but still an entertaining read.
Oh, and '300' also let Lena Headey get a meaty role (Cercei Lannister from Game of Thrones)
I agree that the film was rife with inaccuracies, but the beefcake was nice to watch. I found it thought-provoking to learn about Thermopylae. Our entire civilization would be a very different place if the Persians hadn't chosen 1) that site to land, 2) that pass as a choke point, and 3) 300 men hadn't been standing in the way. As far as significant-globe-changing-battles, that one is certainly near the top of the list. That, and the battle of Marathon.
Here is a site I liked. http://ancientgreekbattles.net/Pages/48 … opylae.htm
Don't know how much more accurate it is than others, but still an entertaining read.
Oh, and '300' also let Lena Headey get a meaty role (Cercei Lannister from Game of Thrones)
Your list of likes about the movie were my complaints! But we cannot all enjoy the same stuff I guess...
I would like to see a historical account of Queen Gorgo though. That would be interesting!
amy s wrote:I agree that the film was rife with inaccuracies, but the beefcake was nice to watch. I found it thought-provoking to learn about Thermopylae. Our entire civilization would be a very different place if the Persians hadn't chosen 1) that site to land, 2) that pass as a choke point, and 3) 300 men hadn't been standing in the way. As far as significant-globe-changing-battles, that one is certainly near the top of the list. That, and the battle of Marathon.
Here is a site I liked. http://ancientgreekbattles.net/Pages/48 … opylae.htm
Don't know how much more accurate it is than others, but still an entertaining read.
Oh, and '300' also let Lena Headey get a meaty role (Cercei Lannister from Game of Thrones)
Your list of likes about the movie were my complaints! But we cannot all enjoy the same stuff I guess...
I would like to see a historical account of Queen Gorgo though. That would be interesting!
Surely we all can agree on the superbness (is this even a word?) of the beefcakes?! 
janet reid wrote:Rebecca Vaughn wrote:Your list of likes about the movie were my complaints! But we cannot all enjoy the same stuff I guess...
I would like to see a historical account of Queen Gorgo though. That would be interesting!
Surely we all can agree on the superbness (is this even a word?) of the beefcakes?!
In the graphic novel, the Spartans aren't wearing anything under those skirts, so there's a whole lot of flapping around
I don't care. As long as they are wearing skirts, and no shirts, I'm good. 
Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi → Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan
