The Semi-Regular Writers Check In Post

[przed.livejournal.com]

Now that all you writers know who you are (and we know how awesome you are) it's time for another check in post.

Writers, how are you coming? Lots written? A little? Not a sausage? And what challenges have you hit? Too much plot? Not enough? Too many sex scenes. (Wait, can you have too many sex scenes?)

Cheerleaders, let's give those writers some encouragement. Or a little friendly mocking. Whatever you think will get those creative juices flowing.

And to provide some educational content to today's post, how about this:

The Ultimate Writing Productivity Resource

Links to more writing resources than you can shake a stick at. Should you want to shake a stick at anything.

Comments

[squeeful.livejournal.com]

What's your time period and what do you need help on?

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

It's set in 1880s London. What I'll probably have the most difficulty with is getting the speech patterns right - people spoke more formally, and expressed emotional reaction differently. There were also more distinct class and regional differences than there are today. I think I'll be rereading my Sherlock Holmes collection carefully.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I don't know about anyone else, but I think this sounds fantastic. (No, I'm not biased. Why do you ask?)

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really hope it will work out. But I should warn you not to get your hopes up - the Great Detective will not be making a guest appearance,

[przed.livejournal.com]

Much as I'd get a kick seeing a certain private consulting detective in your story, just seeing the lads in the period is good enough for me. (I adore historical AUs, and all the better if it's an era I'm already keen on.)

[squeeful.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest reading a few other late-Victorian authors as well; Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan) has his own distinctive style.

I also rec What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew for more factual things. It skews a little earlier, but it covers a lot of day to day information that can really make your historical world a lot better than speech style. (Skip the clothing section, however; it's not entirely inaccurate but the 100 years of 19th century fashion needs more detail than the few pages given). If you have clothing questions, feel free to ask me. Historical costuming is a hobby of mine.

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll head up to the library tomorrow.

You may regret making that clothing offer. I might be at your mailbox fairly regularly. I have no interest in clothes except that they keep me warm and dry, and fashion is a complete mystery to me. I'm sort of vaguely aware of what a bustle is, and that's about the limit of my 1880's fashion sense. *g*