self imposed torture

[erastes]

OK – I’ve given myself until the end of August to finish Mere Mortals.  I’ve written quite a lot of the plot from the point I’m in – because I prefer to write the ending first, so it shouldn’t be impossible.  But it’s hard to push myself on from here because it all starts to unravel (plotwise) from here, and horrible things happen.  I’m probably using this as an excuse for my laziness, I realise this but I’m getting to the stage where I want to be done with this, at least for now.  It needs a lot of reworking because relationships within the book changed as it went along, changed from what I had planned, which is always surprising, and there are bits where I’ve marked it up in bright green and made a note to self to check this or check that. 

Usually, I check as I go, which means that I generally write a lot slower, but this book I wrote mostly “Live” on etherpad, so I didn’t stop every second sentence to check historical facts, so there’s a lot of stuff that needs working through.  1847 wasn’t a particularly busy time historically wise, but there were things going on in the world which the characters should be discussing.

As to where I place it…ah there’s the rub!  My contract with Running Press states that I must offer them any gay historicals I write—but whether they are going to continue with the m/m line is still in the balance, as they wait to see how well the current books do, so I can only cross my fingers.

I know I have some great historians on my flist – does anyone know anything about Charlemagne?  One of the member of the Speak Its Name Yahoo Group wants to know this:

I'm writing a fan fic. and I need info. about Charlemagne and his court{around 782}. I need to know about daily life at Aachen. I've googled and received general information, but I need things like -what they ate, what the rooms were like, how the day was typically spent, games they played, that kind of thing.

Let me know and I’ll pass on any information, it’s really not my era, I’m afraid.

- - - -

Comments

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

YAY. Good timing. First week Sept should get new kitty so can stay home and poke it with sticks if you want!

and whip. ;)

Edited to fix bad html

[rwday.livejournal.com]

If your friend writing about Charlemagne is willing to look at books, there's Daily LIfe in the World of Charlemagne. We have it and as I recall (it's been years since I opened it) it's pretty decent. Amazon has it used for cheap, or he or she could check out local libraries. Otherwise, the full text of Einhard's Life of Charlemagne is online. The short chapters on Charlemagne's habits and dress and such may give a bit of info.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly!

[rwday.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. And good luck meeting your deadline with MM!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

You can tell how hard i'm working on it right now, can't you?

[rwday.livejournal.com]

About as hard as I'm working on mine, I expect. I got up early to finish the rewrite, and have written nothing but LJ comments.

Re: Edited to fix bad html

[spindriftdancer.livejournal.com]

That's the book I was going to suggest as well. And from another angle (the Irish one, which I'm sort of stuck on)... Charlemagne imported many prominent Irish scholars to his court. At the time Ireland was the centre of scholarship for Europe.

How the Irish Saved Civilization mentions a few of the Irish religious personalities at court: Dicuil, the first medieval geographer (very dry wit), Sedulius Scotus, who advised the emperor on statecraft, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedulius_Scotus

And of course, my fave: John Scotus Eriugena. He had a vicious sense of humour, and a mind matched by none in his age. He was quite likely a thorough-going jerk as well. There is a legend that he was stabbed to death by his own students... using their pens. ;p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scotus_Eriugena
One night the Emperor Charlemagne and John Scotus Eriugena were having supper together. After much wine the emperor thought to play a joke on the Irishman.
"What separates a fool from an Irishman?" Charlemagne asked playfully.
"Only the table," replied John.

Charlemagne really liked the wandering Irish monks... (:

Ok. /blather

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

Well, you know I'll proof it for you.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I do - even though i feel guilty now you are a professional!! But thanks! *glomp *

[penelopefriday.livejournal.com]

Ouch, that's a tough deadline. Mind you, August for me is totally an OFF month - full time childcare does not make for a lot of writing time...

Much empathy with the years thing. I have been foolish enough to start something in which the Napoleonic wars are a fairly important plot point. You don't KNOW how much I wish I hadn't done this. The wretched man seems to have organised his life SPECIFICALLY TO ANNOY ME.

*mutters darkly and shuffles off wishing you luck with the end of August thing*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm over the hump now, I think - which was the last chapter - even though I had most of it written I was finding it difficult to bridge it into the book, and now it's all downhill from here!! :D

I am looking forward to hearing more about your novel as time goes on - isn't research FUN??????

DON'T answer that.

[spindriftdancer.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain, sister. I'm trying to wrap my mind around mid 1700's Ireland. And England. And Wales. And Scotland.

What do I know from modern?? (And yes, that is modern compared to what I actually have some good knowledge of. Sadly.)

I'm just going to change all the names and make it fantasy. So there. ;p

[dcjuris.livejournal.com]

This is why I write fantasy! LOL If I had to do all that research, I'd burst a blood vessel in my brain!