From: alaneer	Date: September 30th, 2008 02:58 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I do research on every story.

	From: shade53	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Then I applaud you! At the moment, I'm on a brain-cleanout reading binge and I've just about had it with the lazy people. On the upside - it serves to remind me not to be lazy too - not to be that writer who annoys me.

	From: alaneer	Date: September 30th, 2008 05:57 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Thanks. The downside is that oftentimes I get buried in research and lose track of time.

	From: areteus	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:10 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Even in fantasy you have to have coherent and workable metaphysics and physics in your world. In fact, often to break the rules you still need to know what those rules are and why they exist and therefore why your breaking them 'works'. Examples of this are Pratchett's concepts of dragons only being able to exist in high magical fields (and if they enter a low magical field they vanish because they cannot possibly exist without magic) and numerous writers having the idea that magic requires energy and effort to do (again, Pratchett has the idea that the amount of energy and effort required to magic a loaf of bread into existence is such that you may as well grow the wheat and bake the bloody thing yourself, also the length of time and study required to summon a succubus is such that, by the time you get one, you are too old and infirm to do anything about it...).

Magic needs rules to explain how it works, just like real world science, and often you need to explain why and how those rules circumvent the normal science concepts.

Its not even as if research is particularly difficult in this day and age of ICT. Though, the reliability of sources on the internet is a common bugbear in modern research. Some people need to realise that wikipedia is a) not the only source of knowledge on a topic and b) not peer reviewed and therefore not necessarily 'absolute fact'.

I also think it is important to do things as a writer. You need to swing a real sword, hold a real gun (and fire it), ride a horse, run up a hill wearing chain armour and so on so you know how it feels and be aware of how hard these things actually are...

	From: rhfay	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:23 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I've swung a real sword, and worn armour. My mail is the cheap, butted-ring stuff, so it's a bit heavier than historic mail. However, I can safely say that heat exhaustion would definitely be a problem for armoured warriors, especially in hot climates or sultry summers. I have experienced it personally.

Never run around your house in full armour in the summer time!

Of course, having held a decently-weighted, decently-balanced replica sword in my hands (actually, several), I can also safely say that they weren't heavy, unweildy things. They were well-balanced tools of war.

As for riding a horse, I wish. I wish.

	From: shade53	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:55 pm (UTC)		(Link)

riding horses is great fun! Someday I'd like to have the land to have a few of my own but, in the meantime, I've got my memories and, if I can ever find the time, at least one stable near me that does allow people to ride. They are glorious things, horses. Such intelligence and power there. Marvelous creatures.

I've not worn mail, but I don't write about it either. I have swung a good sword and married a former Marine (sometimes I tease him and tell him I married him just for the research:P ) With the kids, I"ve not gotten to the firing range just yet, but I've had a hell of an education between my hubster and his dad - his dad collects guns and has the most awesome derringers. Lovely things those.

	From: areteus	Date: October 1st, 2008 07:42 am (UTC)		(Link)

Well, how good a sword is depends a lot on how well it is made, of course... they were expensive to make and even more expensive to make well which is why most foot soldiers had polearms.

Heat exhaustion is not only a problem for armour wearers... wool tunics are really uncomfortable to wear, though in that case you can strip down to your linen underwear :) I remember one event I attended where pretty much everyone was stripped half naked because it was so hot.

	From: rhfay	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:15 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Who says writers don't do research anymore? I research many of my poems. I read up on folklore, refresh my memory, before tackling my folklore-inspired pieces.

Of course, I know there are certainly lazy writers out there. Knowing a bit about medieval history and arms and armour, I cringe whenever I see blatantly ridiculous references to swords being so heavy that only the strongest warriors could pick them up, or armour so heavy a man couldn't rise to his feet if knocked over. I thought it was really silly when I saw an excerpt from one story talking about how the characters leather outfit acted like armour.

Leather clothing is not the same as leather armour made from hardened leather or thick hide. Leather was used for armour historically, but wearing a supple leather outfit is not the same as wearing thick leather armour.

	From: shade53	Date: September 30th, 2008 03:57 pm (UTC)		(Link)

sorry - have just finished a whole string of reads (some published by houses that should know better!) of grossly unresearched stuff that just makes me cringe. wasn't trying to offend! just noticing a disturbing trend towards laziness.

	From: rhfay	Date: September 30th, 2008 05:41 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I'm not nearly as offended as you may think I am - I actually know EXACTLY where you're coming from! There is a trend toward laziness.

I've even had a few debates about the importance of research. Some writers feel that it's not overly important. I obviously disagree.

	From: areteus	Date: October 1st, 2008 07:45 am (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah, I don';t think Shade was referring to anyone who reads this journal...

Of course one point about publishing houses... if they don't have an expert in the area being researched, how do they know its been done at all? In some cases, with really obscure knowledge, you have no idea if it has just been made up or not...


Or is that my academic 'all written works should be peer reviewed by a panel of experts' instincts kicking in? :)

	From: rhfay	Date: October 1st, 2008 03:29 pm (UTC)		(Link)

"Or is that my academic 'all written works should be peer reviewed by a panel of experts' instincts kicking in? :)"

I know THOSE instincts all too well. It's hard not to say to yourself "did no one double-check these facts before this thing was published?", even when reading fiction.

	From: jl_johnson	Date: September 30th, 2008 04:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)

That's sad. I love looking up stuff for my stories online, heck I've been known to tie up the phoneline for hourss on end.

It's not that hard, is it? And I thought it was part and parcel of being a writer.