Research (writerly: bite me)

[gauchecritic]

I've yet to meet a Yanqui that is dull witted like some of the people I know, so it isn't a question of not being able to understand the references rather that the amiable chatter between two of the characters touches upon the history of cricket:

"Aylward went in at 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, and was not out till after three on Friday"

"Oh, very good Mr Wisden."

The character's name is actually Peter Knole and Wisden is the name of a group of companies that publish The Cricketers' Almanack.

So does that throw you out of the story or does it point up the dancing banter of two opponents that later get it on together against an oak tree on a cricket pitch?

 

[impressive]

As an author how far or deep do you go into writing 'what you know' because you find it interesting?

Rather than toss extraneous bits into the story, I build a story based on my interests -- make it an integral part of the plot.

This is more likely to happen with my (non-sexual) passions -- such as advocacy-related stuff.

And, I do it with settings all the time. Costa Rica, for example.

 

[king_wesley]

As long as you don't go all Da Vinci Code and give the life story of every person, building and fauna mentioned in the story it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[damppanties]

I've yet to meet a Yanqui that is dull witted like some of the people I know, so it isn't a question of not being able to understand the references rather that the amiable chatter between two of the characters touches upon the history of cricket:

"Aylward went in at 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, and was not out till after three on Friday"

"Oh, very good Mr Wisden."

The character's name is actually Peter Knole and Wisden is the name of a group of companies that publish The Cricketers' Almanack.

So does that throw you out of the story or does it point up the dancing banter of two opponents that later get it on together against an oak tree on a cricket pitch?

This is the same story that you asked about earlier? Where you pasted the beginning / introduction of characters?

 

[gauchecritic]

This is the same story that you asked about earlier? Where you pasted the beginning / introduction of characters?

No, not that one. That one is a convoluted tale about macho boy meets geeky girl and they both know the whereabouts of a fabulous creature. The boy can approach it, the girl can't but the girl knows it exists because of her historical research into the 11th century and beyond.

The boy helps the girl in her research/quest and their relationship intensifies, paralelled in time by the relationship between Harald Hadrada and his 'giant' companion who brought the creature to Yorkshire after capturing it on the steppes of the Russias whilst acting as mercenaries for the czar.

This one is just a possible tree hugger story for the earth day contest. You know the kind of thing. Girl chains herself to tree, local politico/trouble shooter comes to persuade her to leave. They argue. They find common ground. They shag.

 

[shereads]

We yanks adore all things British. Your accents, your vintage Bentley roadsters, your jaunty bowler hats, your economic use of syllables ("lift" for "elevator"), Victorian pornography, the word "bespoke"...

All of those things were foreign to us at one time or another, but that's part of the thrill. Why, Fergie is such a frequent guest on our TV talk shows, she's practically one of us. (A strategic marketing error, since we won't want her anymore once she's one of us, but meanwhile she's charming.)

Go for it, Gauche. On behalf of yanquis, I look forward to decoding the references.

 

[CharleyH]

I suggest that you never include anything that you're convinced your average reader couldn't possibly understand or be familiar with. The information itself will prove no problem if deftly handled, but the assumption of their ignorance will carry through as a fatal contagion.

I agree, Shang.

Put in a layman's way, as a writer one must grow and sometimes this means moving away from said "readers" to gather a new group of "readers". HOWEVER, never assume your current readers cannot grip or grow with you (if you are thinking of Lit of course ... well that's a different ball game). A serious author writes for themselves ... reminds me of some weird ass (GAG) movie called "Field of Dreams". I think the main theme was "If you build - they will come." Still, it kind of holds true as an author.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Yes, the belaying pin could be pulled from the pin rail, and is seen in pirate movies being used as a weapon...I'm not if they were replaced by cleats, but both serve the same function...

Yes, exactly. I don't actually know anything about modern cleats, but the action of "belaying" means to wrap the halyard (the rope that pulls a yard (boom) into the relative position desired) in an over-and-under figure eight around a big wooden pin set in a rail. It's an amazingly flexible system, the pins can be placed in any hole along the railing, and has an instant release- just pull the pin right out of the middle of the tangle and the rope is free.

(We need a "geek" smiley with horn-rimmed glasses)

 

[shereads]

One of my favorite novels, "The Unconsoled," makes frequent references to a "footballer" called "Number Nine." Knowing nothing about the game didn't get in the way of the story; I may have missed some subtleties within the reference, but I got that the narrator was pulled into another character's obsession with a childhood hero.

I was just as mystified by other symbolic elements, and for most of them I didn't have the cultural gap as an excuse. That's okay. Symbolism is supposed to be open to interpretation, isn't it? If I fail to interpret a lot of it, no one needs to know.

 

[damppanties]

This one is just a possible tree hugger story for the earth day contest. You know the kind of thing. Girl chains herself to tree, local politico/trouble shooter comes to persuade her to leave. They argue. They find common ground. They shag.

The extract you pasted doesn't throw me off. But I'm cricket person. Even if I wasn't, I think I'd just wrinkle my brow and then get on with the story. I don't think it would stop me reading if there were other things that hooked me.

Also, where in the story does it come?

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Yes, exactly. I don't actually know anything about modern cleats, but the action of "belaying" means to wrap the halyard (the rope that pulls a yard (boom) into the relative position desired) in an over-and-under figure eight around a big wooden pin set in a rail. It's an amazingly flexible system, the pins can be placed in any hole along the railing, and has an instant release- just pull the pin right out of the middle of the tangle and the rope is free.

(We need a "geek" smiley with horn-rimmed glasses)

I think I'm in ...LOL....

Did you ever read any Alexander Kent novels...or any of the Horatio Hornblower novels...that's where I got my knowledge of 18th Century naval warfare....

 

[Stella_Omega]

In Dorothy Sayers' book "Murder Must Advertise" there's a long,detailed description of a cricket game. I don't know nuttin about cricket, but even so, I could get an idea of what, at least, the game meant to the participants and spectators.

As long as there's meaning in your gnomics- go for it!

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think I'm in ...LOL....

Did you ever read any Alexander Kent novels...or any of the Horatio Hornblower novels...that's where I got my knowledge of 18th Century naval warfare....

a few Richard O' Brian (Master And Commander) novels, I've never read Horatio Hornblower.

Right now, I'm reading Neil Stephenson's Quicksilver series and it's a muthafuckah to get through. But utterly enthralling, and set in the 17th century which is where I'm at cause pirates are purty

Have you read the Flashman series, by George MacDonald Fraser? Must be some of the best researched, most accurate, most entertaining historic novels ever. It's the English Empire, donchah know. Flashy is the man who brings back the Khor-In-Noor diamond, survives the Charge of The Light Brigade, the Battle of Balaclava. Later he gets (unwillingly) involved with a blackbirder, comes to America and is present at the John Brown Massacre that begins the Civil War, takes part in the Gold Rush of '49, rides with Kit Carson, shacks up with Geronimo's baby sister...
And he's an utter rotten coward the whole way. Great stuff.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

a few Richard O' Brian (Master And Commander) novels, I've never read Horatio Hornblower.

Right now, I'm reading Neil Stephenson's Quicksilver series and it's a muthafuckah to get through. But utterly enthralling, and set in the 17th century which is where I'm at cause pirates are purty

Have you read the Flashman series, by George MacDonald Fraser? Must be some of the best researched, most accurate, most entertaining historic novels ever. It's the English Empire, donchah know. Flashy is the man who brings back the Khor-In-Noor diamond, survives the Charge of The Light Brigade, the Battle of Balaclava. Later he gets (unwillingly) involved with a blackbirder, comes to America and is present at the John Brown Massacre that begins the Civil War, takes part in the Gold Rush of '49, rides with Kit Carson, shacks up with Geronimo's baby sister...
And he's an utter rotten coward the whole way. Great stuff.

I've read a few of the Master and Commander novels...and a few of the Flashman series...I loved them...

Alexander Kent's series follows the career of a fictional officer, Richard Bolitho from the rank of Midshipman to Admiral...it's fairly entertaining. Kent's real name is Douglas Reeman, he is RN ret, and served in WWII, he also wrote quite a few books as Douglas Reeman set in WWII.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I've read a few of the Master and Commander novels...and a few of the Flashman series...I loved them...

Alexander Kent's series follows the career of a fictional officer, Richard Bolitho from the rank of Midshipman to Admiral...it's fairly entertaining. Kent's real name is Douglas Reeman, he is RN ret, and served in WWII, he also wrote quite a few books as Douglas Reeman set in WWII.

I took a look at the website.

Winston Churchill said; "Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash."

At which point I thought- hmm, worth writing about? But pirates were very often the men who'd been threatened with death after being caught at buggery, so...

Give me libertine, or give me death, sez I!

 

[rgraham666]

a few Richard O' Brian (Master And Commander) novels, I've never read Horatio Hornblower.

Right now, I'm reading Neil Stephenson's Quicksilver series and it's a muthafuckah to get through. But utterly enthralling, and set in the 17th century which is where I'm at cause pirates are purty

Have you read the Flashman series, by George MacDonald Fraser? Must be some of the best researched, most accurate, most entertaining historic novels ever. It's the English Empire, donchah know. Flashy is the man who brings back the Khor-In-Noor diamond, survives the Charge of The Light Brigade, the Battle of Balaclava. Later he gets (unwillingly) involved with a blackbirder, comes to America and is present at the John Brown Massacre that begins the Civil War, takes part in the Gold Rush of '49, rides with Kit Carson, shacks up with Geronimo's baby sister...
And he's an utter rotten coward the whole way. Great stuff.

I've read some of the Flashman stuff.

God, I hate that man. A complete and utter rotter.

But the books are great.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I've read some of the Flashman stuff.

God, I hate that man. A complete and utter rotter.

But the books are great.

uh... he says he's a rotter, but very often his actions are humanitarian and even, once in a while, heroic.

 

[shereads]

I don't know nuttin about cricket, but even so, I could get an idea of what, at least, the game meant to the participants and spectators.

Exactly. I've never* participated in twelve-way sex with the Flying Walendas, a tentacled sea creature and a vampire, but I can still enjoy a good yarn.



















*"Never" as it's used here, is shorthand for a sort of limited participation, without enthusiasm, and for only the first hour or so, before the arrival of the circus clowns and the pantyhose fetishists.

 

[rgraham666]

uh... he says he's a rotter, but very often his actions are humanitarian and even, once in a while, heroic.

By mistake as I recall.

But it's been years.

 

[gauchecritic]

uh... he says he's a rotter, but very often his actions are humanitarian and even, once in a while, heroic.

In which case you might enjoy Johnathan Gash's 'Lovejoy' series. Very much the cowardly altruist. Thrillers set in the world of antiques.

Also, where in the story does it come?

Pretty early on as the protags get to know each other.