erastes: (being a writer)

Research is a right pain sometimes. I've just spent two hours writing one sentence because I wrote "a woman, wearing a..." and stopped dead.  Then I had to go and research fashion, more particularly Italian fashion in 1933, which turned out to be not as simple as it appeared.  The depression AND fascism had influenced fashion a great deal.

Now I'm stuck again over something STUPID.  What's the thing called that you carry a mixture of cake around on?  You know, usually silver or plated, and has a handle and several stories?

ETA: CAKE STAND - I'm an idiot.  Thank you [livejournal.com profile] enolabloodygay
erastes: (fishslapping)
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?
erastes: (Default)
10 Things I have learned/discovered whilst researching novels.

1. Prince Rupert invented lithography
2. Men's pants (knickers) were called "strossers" in the 17th Century. Not very attractive.
3. Gay Love-Letters from Lord Hervey to Stephen Fox
4. Rictor Norton! What a boon he is!
5. That in the 19th century, whilst sodomy was a hanging offence, proof of ejaculation had to be given to the court - and this, of course, was difficult to prove, so participants were sentenced to a lesser offence, that of assault with sodomitical intent.
6. The Shakespearian insult scroller
7. Cromwell was a university drop-out and yet still managed to be an MP. Nothing much changes.
8. Matthew Hopkins (perhaps the most notorious name in the history of English witchcraft, more commonly known as "The Witch-Finder General") who in 2 years, was responsible for the condemnations and executions of some 230 alleged witches was a lawyer. I'm not particularly surprised. Nowadays of course he would probably condone such behaviour. (evil grin)
9. There were only 7 prisoners in the Bastille when it was "Stormed." The Maquis de Sade was one of them.
10. I hate research.

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