Nitpicky research

[cloudy]

First....I've finally started a story, after a 8 month hiatus!

Ok, now about the research....

I'm at a point where I have just a few lines about tapestries (don't ask). I need to know tacky tapestries vs. quality tapestries.

It doesn't really matter, I suppose. They're not a central point to the story or anything, so I could just wing it, but something in my nature won't let me.

Damn.

How many times have you researched something that you really didn't have to - it's not even a little bit important - but you did it anyway?

And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

 

[Guest]

First....I've finally started a story, after a 8 month hiatus!

Ok, now about the research....

I'm at a point where I have just a few lines about tapestries (don't ask). I need to know tacky tapestries vs. quality tapestries.

It doesn't really matter, I suppose. They're not a central point to the story or anything, so I could just wing it, but something in my nature won't let me.

Damn.

How many times have you researched something that you really didn't have to - it's not even a little bit important - but you did it anyway?

And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

I once spent several hours researching the state of towels in the late 18th/early 19th century, which ended up with the history of terrycloth, all so I could decide how one would be described. I needed two-three words for a single mention.

So don't feel alone

 

[Aurora Black]

First....I've finally started a story, after a 8 month hiatus!

... And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

Good luck, sweetie! The compulsion goes with the territory.

 

[cloudy]

Good luck, sweetie! The compulsion goes with the territory.

Thanks.

This is an odd story for me. I don't usually do non-human or humor, and this one has elements of both. In fact, it may never see the light of day, but we'll see.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Poor Cloudy.

I have the same problem. I get around it by only writing about things and places I know about. That cuts the research down a whole lot. But I still write things in I have to look for. It's frustrating.

 

[cloudy]

what would a couch be called back, say, 1000 years ago, in India?

*sob*

 

[ABSTRUSE]

what would a couch be called back, say, 1000 years ago, in India?

*sob*

A big ass pillow.


I'm a research whore, love it.

 

[chris 44]

First....I've finally started a story, after a 8 month hiatus!

Ok, now about the research....

I'm at a point where I have just a few lines about tapestries (don't ask). I need to know tacky tapestries vs. quality tapestries.

It doesn't really matter, I suppose. They're not a central point to the story or anything, so I could just wing it, but something in my nature won't let me.

Damn.

How many times have you researched something that you really didn't have to - it's not even a little bit important - but you did it anyway?

And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

This is off the top of my head because I'm not sure quite how far back you want to go. The most famous 'old' tapestry I know of was the Bayeux Tapestry which is supposed to tell the story of the Norman Invasion of Britain in 1066. Probably completed in decent materials, silk thread on a decent base (not sure what though). But embroidery is still practised in the present day. Young ladies, schoolgirls used to practice their skills on test pieces, the well off would probably have used scraps of valuable silks, woven into quality cloth. Poor children would have used coarse, dyed wool sewn into sackcloth. Between the two extremes, I think you could virtually choose your own materials to suit the time and setting of your story. Man will adapt and use whatever he has available.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.
Chris

 

[Tom Collins]

First....I've finally started a story, after a 8 month hiatus!

Ok, now about the research....

I'm at a point where I have just a few lines about tapestries (don't ask). I need to know tacky tapestries vs. quality tapestries.

It doesn't really matter, I suppose. They're not a central point to the story or anything, so I could just wing it, but something in my nature won't let me.

Damn.

How many times have you researched something that you really didn't have to - it's not even a little bit important - but you did it anyway?

And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

Well, I clearly recall doing hours of research and starting a thread in here simply to find out all the possibilities for lubricants in the 70s. It was a rather minor point in the story, but I was compelled to make sure I wasn't using anything that couldn't have been readily aquired at the time.

You have this compulsion because you're a writer who cares. You don't want to just whip it together and throw it out there. Especially since you know full well that some anal sumbitch will rip the whole story apart on that one, tiny point if you get it even slightly wrong.

Unfortunatly, I'm no help in the area of tapestries. I wish I was.

 

[cloudy]

This is off the top of my head because I'm not sure quite how far back you want to go. The most famous 'old' tapestry I know of was the Bayeux Tapestry which is supposed to tell the story of the Norman Invasion of Britain in 1066. Probably completed in decent materials, silk thread on a decent base (not sure what though). But embroidery is still practised in the present day. Young ladies, schoolgirls used to practice their skills on test pieces, the well off would probably have used scraps of valuable silks, woven into quality cloth. Poor children would have used coarse, dyed wool sewn into sackcloth. Between the two extremes, I think you could virtually choose your own materials to suit the time and setting of your story. Man will adapt and use whatever he has available.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.
Chris

Thanks, babe.

Well, I clearly recall doing hours of research and starting a thread in here simply to find out all the possibilities for lubricants in the 70s. It was a rather minor point in the story, but I was compelled to make sure I wasn't using anything that couldn't have been readily aquired at the time.

You have this compulsion because you're a writer who cares. You don't want to just whip it together and throw it out there. Especially since you know full well that some anal sumbitch will rip the whole story apart on that one, tiny point if you get it even slightly wrong.

Unfortunatly, I'm no help in the area of tapestries. I wish I was.

I've thrown my compulsion out the window for now. Probably just temporarily, but I started wondering how much of my nitpicky-ness was related to trying to procrastinate actually writing the damn story.

Nayef turned at the faint susurration that accompanied Damali’s entrance. She didn’t come through the door, of course not. Such an entrance would be too mundane for her. She came through the tapestry on the wall. The tacky one.

She could have come through the one they’d lifted from Baron Von-something in Germany, but no. She chose the one that Nayef hated. The one that they’d picked up from the street merchant in Morocco that had picked his nose while he bargained. Nayef would rather have hung a velvet painting of poker playing dogs, but Damali loved it. He suspected she loved it simply because he hated it.

 

[Tom Collins]

Thanks, babe.



I've thrown my compulsion out the window for now. Probably just temporarily, but I started wondering how much of my nitpicky-ness was related to trying to procrastinate actually writing the damn story.

Nayef turned at the faint susurration that accompanied Damali’s entrance. She didn’t come through the door, of course not. Such an entrance would be too mundane for her. She came through the tapestry on the wall. The tacky one.

She could have come through the one they’d lifted from Baron Von-something in Germany, but no. She chose the one that Nayef hated. The one that they’d picked up from the street merchant in Morocco that had picked his nose while he bargained. Nayef would rather have hung a velvet painting of poker playing dogs, but Damali loved it. He suspected she loved it simply because he hated it.

I like that. What time is the story set in?

 

[cloudy]

I like that. What time is the story set in?

Now...modern times, and I'm giving a bit away, but Nayef and Damali are OLD.
(they're djinn)

 

[Tom Collins]

Now...modern times, and I'm giving a bit away, but Nayef and Damali are OLD.
(they're djinn)

Ahhh...I just wondered cuz of the bit about the velvet painting of dogs...lol

 

[cloudy]

Ahhh...I just wondered cuz of the bit about the velvet painting of dogs...lol

The more I write, the more snarky Damali is becoming...in a fun way.

Now I'm researching traditional Turkish furniture and foods. *sigh*

 

[Guest]

 

[cloudy]

I wound up saying, "the pot full of dye stank" when I did get around to writing.

sounds about like what I've done with my tapestries.

 

[Guest]

 

[cloudy]

So now how can we procrastinate?

*snicker*

traditional turkish foods.

 

[Guest]

 

[cloudy]

I've got an oogy tummy--are there any traditional Turkish remedies?

gimme a couple of hours, and I'll find out.

 

[kendo1]

Underwear in early 18thC Scotland.(1700 - 1705)
And how much they cost in Scottish and English pounds.
Underpants did not come along for another 150 years. It was thought that anything that interfered with airflow around ones private parts was a bad idea. Socks had not been invented. Offcuts of plaid were sewn together to make 'hose'.
This is where the stories of Scotsmen not wearing anything under the kilt came from.
Any tartan was worn. There were no 'clan' tartans. Specific designs were made in different areas, but they were not exclusively for one clan.
Not untill about 1950, if memory serves me. An enterprising tailor decided it was a good idea to make clan tartans. He was right, business boomed.

Scottish pounds were changing hands at a rate of fifteen to one English by money lenders. The official rate was supposedly ten to one. Most people preffered to be paid in English coin.
Dildos tended to be made of wood, the more expensive ones were made of ivory or glass. The French seemed to have cornered the market in Scotland.
Olive oil was used as a lubricant. Better than Johnson's baby oil!

The list goes on...

Ken

 

[AchtungNight]

How many times have you researched something that you really didn't have to - it's not even a little bit important - but you did it anyway?

And why do I have this compulsion to make sure it's right?

I got that feeling when I decided to write Erika Christensen into my Upside of Anger story The Rendezvous. I was researching her to get her character right, found out she was born into a certain fruity club I had problems with, and {boom!} there was a huge problem I had to get past. I researched the fruity club extensively, trying to see what people see in it while keeping my own sanity. I based the end result of Erika's character (a rebellious slutty Sci who's comfortable with being both and laughing about it, concentrating on the good and trying to avoid or make up for the bad) and Keri Russell's prejudice ("She's a Sci! AUGH!") and end reaction to her ("ok, shouldn't have prejudged- whatever floats her boat, I don't care") on my conclusions (those articles that came out last summer about Keri converting to Sci made for a good joke, as did many other things). The story ended up being a jab at both Scientology and people who stereotype others based on their religion and refuse to see that they don't all have to be just sheep. Of course it's also about developing relationships and hot actress femslash. There may be a sequel one day.

 

[glynndah]

Personally, I blame links. You can't simply reasearch tapestries. You start with tapestries, then click the link to castles, then White Castles, then sliders, then slide whistles, then whistling through graveyards, then the graveyard shift, then the shift key, then the key to modern office management, then office supplies, then tape, and then you're right back to tapestries. And you still haven't answered your original question.

 

[cloudy]

Personally, I blame links. You can't simply reasearch tapestries. You start with tapestries, then click the link to castles, then White Castles, then sliders, then slide whistles, then whistling through graveyards, then the graveyard shift, then the shift key, then the key to modern office management, then office supplies, then tape, and then you're right back to tapestries. And you still haven't answered your original question.

ah...another link addict.

 

[Aurora Black]

*Homer Simpson voice*

Mmm, White Castle hamburgers... *drool*