Ah! I see!
I don't know.
1 2017-06-21 02:25:31
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
2 2017-06-21 02:17:26
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Per the review: I don't mean that you should claim the story is true history, but to use some of the style of a history, with 'sidebars' (as leading chapter notes) to remind the reader of people and their last appearances, etc. As I envision these notes, they don't give any hint of the plot that is to follow, but only remind the reader.
Ah! I see!
Copy style!
3 2017-06-21 02:14:47
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Just started John McWhorter's =Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue=. McWhorter's thesis is that English, nominally a Germanic language, has grammar and other structure shaped by Celtic and Cornish.
That's very interesting. I'll have to look into it.
Most Insular Celtic languages are Verb-Subject-Object, so I tend to think of them as being grammatically different from English where we favor Subject-Verb-Object. I guess there are other similarities that I haven't thought of.
Thanks!
4 2017-05-30 05:17:29
Re: Sol, Hacked by NYX (5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I have it to!
I'll have to get my husband to disable scripting... Sigh.
5 2017-04-20 03:20:18
Re: I'm locked out of Premium! (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Whew!
And
Sorry...
6 2017-04-20 01:58:12
Re: I'm locked out of Premium! (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
NJC
I needed to renew. So maybe that's why there was a problem? I renewed this morning and posted fine now, so let me know it you still have trouble.
7 2017-04-01 22:03:27
Re: Chapter republish question (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
If you want people who have already reviewed it to review it against, best republish. It will const you the points but will also give points to the people who have already reviewed it and therefore already got points. Also republishing will put it up as a new chapter so people who have already read it will know that it has been updated. (Otherwise, they might never notice.)
If it doesn't matter to you if people reread it or not, just save and don't republish. No need to spend points if you don't have to.
8 2017-03-24 06:29:02
Re: Comma usage question (17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I would say 2.
My English teacher always said not to put a comma after a FANBOYS.
For And Not But Or Yet So
So "and," would not be correct.
9 2016-10-10 22:55:33
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Rebecca Vaughn wrote:njc wrote:Draigh?
I'm not sure you need to change Orson. Maybe change the second vowel, or double the 'n'?Not sure.
"Draigh" looks too Anglicized (Germanized?) to me (like my name last name "Vaughn") strangely so does "Orsonn" (although there are double "n"s used in Brithonic).Then I vote for Draich and Orsius. (I take it the latter name is to be of Latin origin?)
Ok!
Yes! They are Latin! Orson, Orsius, and Orsus all mean "bear" (Maybe "bear king"?)
10 2016-10-10 22:49:06
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Haven't you already published some of your books?
Yes, I published and am now trying to republish "The Beast of Caer Baddan". It is about Owain Finddu.
I also prefer Draich (which I would mentally pronounce like Drake)
Yes! That's another point for Draich!
Orsius...dunno. I see it and mentally switch the letters into Osirus for familiarity and ease of remembering.
Uh oh. Hmmmmmmmmm. Maybe I should scratch "Orsius" off the list...
11 2016-10-10 22:34:30
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Draich.
Orsius.That's my favorites!
Ok! One for Daich and one for Orsius
12 2016-10-10 22:15:44
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Dryden?
Looks like another variation of "Tristan"
No?
13 2016-10-10 22:12:11
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Draigh?
I'm not sure you need to change Orson. Maybe change the second vowel, or double the 'n'?
Not sure.
"Draigh" looks too Anglicized (Germanized?) to me (like my name last name "Vaughn") strangely so does "Orsonn" (although there are double "n"s used in Brithonic).
14 2016-10-07 20:41:55
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I've decided to change names for both Drech and Orson. Drech has to go because people will say "Dreck" which is gross, and "Orson has to go because it is really way too modern for the time period
For Drech, I was thinking:
Draig
or
Draich
For Orson, I was thinking:
Orsus
or
Orsius
Thoughts?
15 2016-07-18 13:18:11
Re: Quiz: Character Traits (6 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I think Drech would wind surf. He is very daring and makes rather rash decisions.
16 2016-05-16 20:00:38
Re: I need to rant (16 replies, posted in Romance Inc.)
Nice! Love the lime on you! So happy for your son!
17 2016-05-12 06:10:49
Re: King Satin's Realm in top 10 Mississippi Reads (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Congratulations! Whahooo!
18 2016-03-02 18:15:09
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Simplify the grammar logic. Stay with the English of the reader, but be a little clumsy with it. 'It is worse, that his mother was a slave', or 'What is worse, that his mother was a slave.' If you can mirror the Pictish grammar it will be a bonus, but few readers will know you've done that--or not.
Ok, I'll play around with it.
19 2016-03-02 02:01:30
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
What Amy was saying was too hard was the altered way
Worse his mother before a slaze
But this is another error of mine.
It should be:
Worse, he mother before slaze
Which actually makes no sense.
20 2016-03-02 00:06:17
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
No, not alone.
Aw. Thanks!
21 2016-03-02 00:03:21
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I'm somewhere in the middle. Whether it is grammar or spelling it doesn't matter, my point is to not to overdo it to the point that it is grating or become the focus (because the reader is more trying to figure out what is being said than reading). Basically, anything will be okay, but keep it subtle.
Also, just mentioning she has an accent is also okay. It's tricky though to keep reminding readers of her accent though without also becoming overbearing. But it's also an option in addition to using different grammar or spelling.
At the end of the day, this is what makes writing so hard sometimes - there's a million different ways to do something and choosing the best way isn't all that straightforward. For me, I'm always double-guessing whether I'm doing the right thing and wondering whether X instead of Y won't work better. Both works, but I guess this is where some books become award winners and receive widespread acclaim and others don't. I try not to stress too much about it as I just want my stories to be read. It's not so much about awards and acclaim. Others' mileage may vary.
All that said, what you've been doing so far works for me Rebecca. You already have a very distinct (historical) voice. I don't think it can be improved because it's already that good. But don't let me limit you. I have a lot of confidence in your ability to make anything work (even better despite what I think)!
I think I'll have to go more with the mentioning an accent thing and less with writing it out. I don't want readers thinking Queen Muiredach is stupid or get frustrated trying to understand what she is saying. And I'm now concerned that I will make errors that no one can correct because they aren't sure what I am trying to say.
22 2016-03-01 19:54:20
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I disagree. Rebecca is so immersed in the actual facts of this time period. This part feels real to me. The Queen's speech isn't stilted. The 'slaze' makes sense and is in context with Drech's story. I like it a lot.
Only sentence I had a problem with was, "Worse, his mother before a slaze."
She is talking about herself, isn't she? I would clarify this. Otherwise, this reads as if she is speaking of a different person.
Thanks, Amy!
I wish more people felt I got the facts right! I would spend a lot less time on the internet! Haha!
I'm sad now: "To make matters worse, his mother was a slaze." was actually my favorite line in the whole chapter! (Maybe because she is sympathizing with the potential struggles of her unborn child by looking at the problem threw that child's eyes.) But it seems I am alone in that like. Sigh. I'm changing it.
23 2016-03-01 19:45:44
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
The grammar is harder for me to read through than the spelling. Since Drech (presumably) has little difficulty, we should have little difficulty, so stay in his perspective.
IMO.
YMMV.
Ah, I see what you mean!
I suppose Drech may have no difficulty understanding her as he has know her for a while by this time. (I do mention a few times in the narration that Drech has to strain to understand the Eire because they speak differently.) But readers should be able to understand without getting frustrated.
Interestingly, I actually made a few errors that I think made it easier to understand. Haha!
I think I shall have to figure out something else less intrusive to do with Queen Muiredach.
24 2016-02-28 09:12:53
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Actually ... I prefer what we have now. It's easier for me to notice and read over than the change in grammar.
Ah, this possess a problem, as of all the Pictii characters, Queen Muiredach actually has the most lines (She appears in Books 2, 3, 4, and 6). If the change of grammar is too hard to understand, I do not feel comfortable using it for such a character.
25 2016-02-28 09:09:39
Re: Titles in The Pendragon and The Beast of Caer Baddan (206 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Drech's conversation with Queen Muiredach in Chapter Three:
“You are going to Pictland, Pendragon?” came a cautious voice.
Drech glanced over his shoulder to see the queen standing behind his chair. He had been too consumed in his thoughts to notice that she rounded the head table to his seat.
“Oh, ie, Queen Muiredach,” he said, rising from his own chair. “I am.”
“Haz you met a Pictii besides myself?” she asked.
“Princess Eva, a Novantae,” Drech replied, “and of course in battle.”
The queen gave a hesitant smile. “We are strange ones to you Britannae. Not alike at all. You do not speak /Maetae/ do you?”
Her voice bounced off the four syllables as if it were striking bells instead of saying a word.
“Speak what, Madam?” Drech said, his ears trying to attune themselves to her utterance.
“You do not speak Pictish,” she said, as an explanation.
“Ah! No, Madam,” Drech said with a light laugh. “I fear I do not. Yet Lord Orson does, as you know, and I believe one of the knights as well. Is that what it is called? May-eh-tay-eh?”
“Most certainly,” she giggled. “But do not say it like that, for it is nonsense. It is the speech of the Pictii of the south. My people. Pendragon, take care. There is much anger against the Britannae in that land.”
“Why is that, Queen?”
“You remember my first husband Prince Fulgen of Bryneich.”
“Ie, of course.”
Drech could not forget the man whose murder he solved and whose second killer was still free and unpunished.
“He led a campaign into Maetae land,” Queen Muiredach continued. “His army beat that of Prince Galam, a mighty general of much renown. It was a huge slaughter. Do not expect to be welcomed.”
Drech had to think on these words.
“The highest ruler is called the Brude,” she said. “If you meet him, do not speak to the interpreter, have one of your own interpret your words. Then the Brude will be forced to recognize you as an equal.”
“That is good advice, Madam,” Drech replied. “Thank you.”
“I must go and speak to Queen Elen. She is pregnant, you know. Although not near as far along as I am.”
Drech blinked in surprise, for he had not noticed Queen Muiredach's protruding stomach.
She cradled her growing belly with loving hands, but her eyes spoke fear.
“Are you well, Queen Muiredach?” Drech asked.
She gave a sorrowful laugh. “As ezer. My child is half Pictii. That is not the best thing to be in Rheged. And to make matters worse, his mother was a slaze.”
Drech had not thought of that. Of course the queen would be concerned about her child who, though heir to a lord, could be an outcast in his own land.
“My grandmother was a foreigner and a slave,” Drech replied.
“What?” she gasped, her eyes wide in shock.
“Ie,” Drech said. “It is true. She was a Gewissae, a barbarian, and until my grandfather married her, she was his slave.”
“She was a slaze? The Queen of all Albion was a slaze just as I was?”
Drech nodded. “She was in deed, Madam. Ie, many people did not like her because she was born poor and a Gewissae. But her sons, my father and my uncle, were loved and respected.”
“Thank you, Pendragon,” Queen Muiredach replied, with a sigh of relief. “You do not know how your words have helped me.”
With the grammar changed it would read like this:
“You go-later to Pictland, Pendragon?” came a cautious voice.
Drech glanced over his shoulder to see the queen standing behind his chair. He had been too consumed in his thoughts to notice that she rounded the head table to his seat.
“Oh, ie, Queen Muiredach,” he said, rising from his own chair. “I am.”
“You meet-before Pictii not me?” she asked.
“Princess Eva, a Novantae,” Drech replied, “and of course in battle.”
The queen gave a hesitant smile. “We strange to you Britannae. Not same. You speak not /Maetae/?”
Her voice bounced off the four syllables as if it were striking bells instead of saying a word.
“Speak what, Madam?” Drech said, his ears trying to attune themselves to her utterance.
You speak not Pictish,” she said, as an explanation.
“Ah! No, Madam,” Drech said with a light laugh. “I fear I do not. Yet Lord Orson does, as you know, and I believe one of the knights as well. Is that what it is called? May-eh-tay-eh?”
“Certain,” she giggled. “But you say not it like that, for it nonsense. It speech of Pictii in south. Me people. Pendragon, you take care. There many anger against Britannae in Pictii land.”
“Why is that, Queen?”
“You remember me first husband, Prince Fulgen of Bryneich.”
“Ie, of course.”
Drech could not forget the man whose murder he solved and whose second killer was still free and unpunished.
“He led campaign into Maetae land,” Queen Muiredach continued. “He army beat Prince Galam, mighty general of much renown. It then huge slaughter. Expect not welcom.”
Drech had to think on these words.
“Highest ruler called Brude,” she said. “If you meet him, speak not to interpreter. Have you own man interpret you words. Then Brude force-then to recognize you as equal.”
“That is good advice, Madam,” Drech replied. “Thank you.”
“I need speak to Queen Elen. She pregnant, you know. Far not as long as I.”
Drech blinked in surprise, for he had not noticed Queen Muiredach's protruding stomach.
She cradled her growing belly with loving hands, but her eyes spoke fear.
“Are you well, Queen Muiredach?” Drech asked.
She gave a sorrowful laugh. “As ezer. My child half Pictii. That best thing not in Rheged. Worse, his mother before a slaze.”
Drech had not thought of that. Of course the queen would be concerned about her child who, though heir to a lord, could be an outcast in his own land.
“My grandmother was a foreigner and a slave,” Drech replied.
“What?” she gasped, her eyes wide in shock.
“Ie,” Drech said. “It is true. She was a Gewissae, a barbarian, and until my grandfather married her, she was his slave.”
“She before slaze? Queen all Albion before slaze same me?”
Drech nodded. “She was in deed, Madam. Ie, many people did not like her because she was born poor and a Gewissae. But her sons, my father and my uncle, were loved and respected.”
“Thank you, Pendragon,” Queen Muiredach replied, with a sigh of relief. “You know not you word help me.”
Is this too hard to understand?