Peering about, blearily.

[erastes]

It's things like this that make my research head all light and happy. 
Newspaper on the day of Charles I's death 30th January 1648

Self-sporkage for today:

"He fropped to his knees."  Who do you think you are? Lewis Carroll?
When a character is peeling an apple AND stroking someone's hair, this means they have three hands, you nitwit.
If you say a town is "bustling and lively" - do not, two paragraphs later, say that there are "few people about."
stop writing things like "he stood UP" and "he sat DOWN".  Just stop.

*despairs of self*


Question:  If I wrote: "He opened a press and took out his greatcoat" would you know what I meant?  Or should I make it easier and just say wardrobe even though that's anachronistic?

Comments

[kethlenda.livejournal.com]

Three hands...have you ever seen this cover? LOL. (Warning: Het.)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - she'd have no problems with the apple peeling and hair caressing!!

:)

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Coo - wouldn't like to play her at cards.

[suryaofvulcan.livejournal.com]

Question: If I wrote: "He opened a press and took out his greatcoat" would you know what I meant? Or should I make it easier and just say wardrobe even though that's anachronistic?

I wouldn't have a problem with 'press', but then it's still in usage in the part of Scotland I come from. I did use it recently in a story, and people didn't seem to have a problem with it (NB the POV character is American):

“Eggs, milk, bread,” he said, gesturing in the direction of the kitchen. “No coffee, just tea. Privy is outside. Blankets in the press.” He indicated a door I assumed was a closet. “You can sleep on the couch.” And then he stalked into the bedroom and closed the door firmly behind him.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - context is all - that works. I think I'll go with peg instead. Bah.

:)

[arionrhod.livejournal.com]

I would understand press, and I'm a backwards 'Merican. ;) I think it's still a colloquialism in some parts of America, too.

As far as three hands goes... well, he'd be VERY popular, wouldn't he? :D

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And yes - he would ! *G*

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

When a character is peeling an apple AND stroking someone's hair, this means they have three hands, you nitwit.

OR that the person getting stroked will end up with hair full of apple juice. *g*

It is also amazing how active some people can be when they bustle about.

Write "He sat UP" or "He stood DOWN" instead ... ;-)

*giggles*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

and he'll get hair all over his apple. Ewww.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Tehe.

BUT it works without the need of an extra hand.

[shiawmeimei.livejournal.com]

LOL on the Sporkage! My characters are forever "standing up" or "sitting down". One of things I delibrately search for when self-editing.

I think press works. Although my brain sparked a little recognition from who knows where, the context explains it well enough.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'd never noticed it before, it wasn't something even the editor had picked out, but after the twelth time I just looked at it and thought - well, HOW ELSE would it be? Standing down would be a completely different concept and would need explaining. gah!

[gweneiriol.livejournal.com]

Question: If I wrote: "He opened a press and took out his greatcoat" would you know what I meant? Or should I make it easier and just say wardrobe even though that's anachronistic?

I would know but only because I've read enough historical romances/novels to know what a greatcoat is and because I was a history major at one time so I know a press is a closet/wardrobe from there too. I'd go with wardrobe though because I'm sure everyone knows what that is, even if they've never actually seen one. :D

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I've chickened out and am using peg. :)

[gweneiriol.livejournal.com]

:) Sounds like a good plan to me!

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Oh, 'standing up' and 'sitting down' are watchwords for me too. Also, I think the context is enough for 'press' if one didn't already know what it was.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks hun!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

No imagination, you. The hair he was stroking was so stiffened from overapplication of henna that he was using it to peel said apple.

I'd know what you meant. Could you fudge and call it a clothes press? Or would people then think of the things in hotel rooms fer yer troosers?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

*SNORTS* Rolling on the floor laughing imagining my dour Puritan henna-ing his hair.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Don't know what you're laughing at. I seen him done it.

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

I love your self-sporkage - it's like those out-take TV programmes!!

I understand press, still use the word!! Mind you, at home, we tend to think of press as a cupboard in the wall not necessarily specifically for clothing.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm disgusted as to how many sporking moments I have. Glad they are making you smile, though. Good to share the pain!

I've wimped out and said "coat-stand" now. Now all I have to do is make sure they had them. If all else fails- I'll use PEG.

:)

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well I know at least one thing I'll be having to change - I use standing up and sitting down a lot too. I think press is fine because it's easily understood in context anyway, whether you think of a wardrobe or a cupboard or a chest.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

This wasn't even something she spotted - I think her whittling down of my words are just making me more attuned to the whole "less is more" thing.

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

Re the on-going debate on press (I certainly recognise the word, no probs) and now settling on coat-stand: you did look that up in the OED, didn't you, to make sure they even had the things (have no idea myself)? I would have thought both a press or your first alternative the peg far more common items. But please not wardrobe!

Ain 't editing fun? And for you it's really serious, not just a self-respect issue as it is for me, just doing fanfic.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

As far as I can see, the coat racks (which I'm going for) were basically just pretty pegs.

Look at this gorgeous thing.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/jimwuerstlin/item/G33

I've never used the OED, doesn't one need a subscription?

I think I got addicted to research in fanfic. I remember when I wrote my Lucius novel and researched everything from sports cars to the Savoy chain! It's great that you take it just as seriously.

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

Ah, that kind of coat rack! I was thinhking of a coat stand - very different, sorry! That's a gorgeous example.

Yes, I believe you're right about the OED. Not a sensible proposition in hard copy these days. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the 2-vol SOD about three years back - that has a lot of etymological data. On the rare occasions I need to know when something came into use, it's not bad, though there's probably going to be more info in the oED. However, you'd need to be a rich and successful historical novelist for that to be viable, tax deduction or not. At least now the internet, if one has patience, provides some reliable reosurces.

I take the checking up fairly seriously, but I also tend to assume - sometimes fatally - that I know already!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ah but I've found out I can access the OED free via my library! whee!!!

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

That's excellent! And on-line from home, I assume. (I must look further into what our library servce offers on-line beyond looking for books and extending loans.)

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

You could say "clothes-press," which would make the action perfectly clear and increase most readers' vocabularies.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'll slip that in somewhere- I've realised that he probably wouldn't have kept his great-coat in there, anyway! Thanks hun!

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

Yes, to your question.

When a character is peeling an apple AND stroking someone's hair, this means they have three hands, you nitwit.

Perhaps, but that would make for interesting sex in another setting. *ponders this cheerfully*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks hun - and don't worry btw - I haven't forgotten you even with the editing nightmare - your story is half done!

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

*dances*

Science Fiction—that's where I was going with my earlier comment. Three hands would be a bonus in loads of contexts. ;)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

And I'm going to be late, because of my birthday yesterday - but it's nearly done. Watch your inbox on Monday! I'm liking the characters a lot, I hope you do too....