Too Much Thinking?

[Malik]

^^ I have a book somewhere called something like The Fantasy Writer's Sourcebook that is exactly this. It's probably 20 years old. I may have given it away but I'll look for it later and post the info if I still have it.

 

[Svrtnsse]

^^ I have a book somewhere called something like The Fantasy Writer's Sourcebook that is exactly this. It's probably 20 years old. I may have given it away but I'll look for it later and post the info if I still have it.

I googled that and ended up with: Amazon.com: fantasy writing: Books

 

[Addison]

I have all three books of "The Complete Fantasy Guide" series. Fantastic series, helped me out a lot when I started writing.

 

[Devor]

I googled that and ended up with: Amazon.com: fantasy writing: Books

I don't see anything there that's specifically on research. I expect most of those are useless long-winded rants on character arcs and a whole lot of writing prompts.

Well, wait. There's this by Writer's Digest.

The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference by Writers Digest (Nov 15, 2000)

I wonder if it's any good.

 

[Addison]

That is a fantastic book Devor. I have it myself, it covers medieval life, magic in several ages and cultures. I learned of types of magic and creatures I'd never heard of before.

 

[Devor]

That is a fantastic book Devor. I have it myself, it covers medieval life, magic in several ages and cultures. I learned of types of magic and creatures I'd never heard of before.

Is there anything about swordplay, travel, urban life and agriculture? Those are the big ones.

((edit))

I just looked at the Table of Contents. I'm not impressed. I'm not questioning that it's good information, but it doesn't cover all of the necessary topics.

 

[Addison]

If by sword play you mean types of weapons and dueling ethics, then yes. It covers wagons, horse travel. Urban life as in today's urban? No. But it does explain everyday life in medieval times. It goes into great detail about the agriculture.

 

[Malik]

I don't see anything there that's specifically on research. I expect most of those are useless long-winded rants on character arcs and a whole lot of writing prompts.

Well, wait. There's this by Writer's Digest.

The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference by Writers Digest (Nov 15, 2000)

That's it.

It's not bad. It's basic and not very involved, but I've probably read twenty self-published fantasies in the last month that could've used even this much help.

 

[Devor]

If by sword play you mean types of weapons and dueling ethics, then yes. It covers wagons, horse travel. Urban life as in today's urban? No. But it does explain everyday life in medieval times. It goes into great detail about the agriculture.

They might be there. But I'm very confused, for instance, why they would give clothing and warfare the same amount of space, and why there's a section on "Dwarves" or "Elves" at all.

 

[Svrtnsse]

People generally wear clothes and the way people are dressed say a lot about them. Most readers will have some experience with clothes, even if not specifically medieval style garb. If they pick up on that you've missed something in someone's clothing it may annoy them.
In contrast, most readers will have little to no experience with warfare and will probably be less likely to accept mistakes.

There could of course be other reasons too. Like: writers like to describe what their characters are wearing in great details - or something.

 

[Devor]

I'm probably just being too critical, the chapter on warfare is twice as long as the one on clothes, and elves & dwarves are valid historical myths. I'm adding it to my wish list. Maybe I'll pick it up.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

One interesting issue I'm running into right now, as I'm writing actually, is describing combat in a way that is both realistic and entertaining. Because in real life, fights are over very quickly, but we also have to agree that the tearing-around-the-castle-up-and-down-the-ramparts fights are fun to watch/read. So, I'm trying to find a balance, because my inner realist doesn't want to cry bullsh!t on myself, but I also want to show more than crash, bang, dead.

Also, for your generic "I know nothing about Medieval times" setting research, Daily Life in Medieval Times: Frances Gies Joseph; Gies: 9780760759134: Amazon.com: Books is pure awesome if you can get your hands on a copy.