[ SECRET POST #3240 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3240 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 027 secrets from Secret Submission Post #463.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

03. http://i.imgur.com/geAp6WK.jpg

Transcript by OP

[fscom]

Transcript: I would dearly love to write for Age of Sail fandoms, Age of Sail AU or Age of Sail original fiction... But the thought of having to do all the historical research and learn all the relevant slang keeps my sails trimmed.

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

Original novel anon again: if a rec would help, the single most useful book I've found is Sam Willis, "Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century". It aspects has chapters covering all aspects of a chase and sea-fight, in sequence, from first sighting and identification to the battle itself followed by damage repair. It's crystal clear and has diagrams and an extensive glossary. Sam Willis is a brilliant Age of Sail historian all round.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3028505-fighting-at-sea-in-the-eighteenth-century

Good luck, anon, and I hope you take the plunge!

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

Sounds like a neat book, thank you! :)

Re: Transcript by OP

[(Anonymous)]

As the OP of the secret from a few weeks back about wanting more AOS, I'm happy to see another fan.

Personally, if you're just writing fanfic or AU's, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You'll pick up a lot of the lingo just from reading/watching the source material, and I'm pretty sure most people in the fandom won't judge you for it. I know I wouldn't.

If your hesitation is because you, personally, like things to be historically accurate (rather than worrying about being judged for your lack of accuracy), then I understand that too. In that case, I'd just poke around for books or websites that looked fun to read, so you can do research and have fun at the same time.

Either way, though, I hope you try your hand at writing some AOS. It's always nice to have more out there.

[iceyred]

No comment on the secret, but man that is a cool picture.

OP

[(Anonymous)]

It's pretty neat, isn't it! It's by a Finnish artist named Juhani Jokinen and here is some more of his work:

http://www.artofjokinen.com/
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/02/the-glorious-age-of-sail/

Re: OP

[iceyred]

Thanks for the link! Dude is amazing. I especially love his ice and snow backgrounds.

[ibbity]

Yeah, I wanted to write a novel about Russian aristocrats in the mid-19th century but I ended up not doing it for the same reason. It's incredibly frustrating to have a billion little details you can never be quite sure if you're right about.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm kinda in the same boat, OP. My love for Sparrington has recently been rekindled, and as a consequence of reading a lot of fic and watching the movies over again, I've had a lot of plot bunnies that I've been writing down. I'm not sure I'll be able to turn any of them into worthwhile stories, however, partly because I know so little about that time period.

I've picked up the Aubrey/Maturin series in the hopes it might give me at least a bit of knowledge. It's always very daunting when trying to write anything historical, for me at least.

Also, can I ask what exactly ARE the Age of Sail fandoms? Is PotC included in there, or am I completely off-base here?

[(Anonymous)]

I'd include the Aubrey/Maturin series in that category. Also Horatio Hornblower and maybe Naomi Novik's work, sort of?

[(Anonymous)]

Fellow PotC fan here (always loved Jack, have a new love for Norrie)!

In the last AoS talk here, I think it's on the border lands, so to speak (you should check out Black Sails, it's far less romantic than PotC). PotC is more Golden Age of Piracy, AoS is more...War of 1812? Horatio Hornblower comes to mind.

While I'm not into slash, I would be happy to help fact check/do some reading in regards to piracy.

--anon

[(Anonymous)]

I have the same problem at the moment OP. I got into the Hornblower TV series not so long ago, and now I crave some fic. Both of the gen type and for my small ships. I have some ideas, but I don't think I can do them right, and I don't even know where I should begin looking for relevant information.

Shameless pimping...

[ioanite.livejournal.com]

A new Hornblower fan?!?! *glomps* The more, the merrier!

If you want fic, historical information, or just to geek out, come over here;

http://following-sea.livejournal.com/

Our mods are professional historians who have written a book on Napoleonic Navy life; they both know what they're talking about and don't judge people who don't know the difference between a head and a halyard. It's a fantastic (if sometimes slow moving) comm, and I recommend it to all Hornblower fans.

Re: Shameless pimping...

[(Anonymous)]

On that like a fly on horse shit.

OP

[(Anonymous)]

I have actually taken a little look around that com. Might join it, if I can find the currage. (Curse you anxiety)

[(Anonymous)]

Don't call it Age of Sail, just make your own historical sailing AU where the details are as correct or anachronistic you need them. The test is whether they make sense within the universe you create.

There's plenty of great stories that make no sense in a real world perspective, but perfect sense within the borders the author have created. Pratchett, Adams, Tolkien, Gaiman, Carrol, Stevenson, Burroughs... the list goes on and on.

[(Anonymous)]

NAYRT

I do this in a fantasy setting so I don't have to worry about historical accuracy. But sometimes I really want to write for a specific historical setting in the real world, not my own AU. But I feel like it's an intimidating prospect because I hate the idea of getting little details wrong and research takes a great deal of time.

[(Anonymous)]

I hear you, anon. I'm writing an Age of Sail original novel at the moment, and I feel as if I'm taking several undergraduate degrees at once. I've been on an overnight sail on a schooner, had a personalised guided tour of another schooner that's being restored, visited a coupla museums (including Greenwich), and been to a Royal Navy Trafalagar Night dinner just last month. I've barely scratched the surface of what I need to know - and yet, the bunny will not leave me alone.

But Patrick O'Brian barely knew what he was writing about either, according to the people in the know that I've spoken to. So perhaps in-depth understanding isn't really necessary?

And I love the picture in your secret, too.

[(Anonymous)]

SA Also, I can spell Trafalgar, I promise.

[(Anonymous)]

As someone who is all about PotC, the Aubrey/Maturin series, and Black Sails (and Treasure Island):

Yeah. Pretty much this secret! It's just all too intimidating for me. Still love watching/reading it though!

[(Anonymous)]

DA

I'm so happy to see all the PotC/Black Sails love!!!

Do you have any fic recs? Gen? Character studies? Any pairings?

[dinogrrl]

Give it a shot! I write a lot of historical-based fantasy and yes, the research can be aggravating and extensive, but it's so fascinating and so much fun! It's also great when you can find someone else who has an interest in it and has been working on it a while to share their knowledge with you - history nerds are generally very passionate nerds and love to talk :p.

And you know what? No matter how much you research, no matter what sort of notes you take, or how accurate you get things...you will always get something wrong. Someone, somewhere, will be an expert on a tiny detail you didn't even think of and they'll notice when it's wrong. Even those who spend their entire lives studying this stuff will still get stuff wrong. But! If you put in a thorough, honest effort, and stay open to different viewpoints and corrections, most people are willing to forgive the mistakes on more obscure bits on knowledge.