Just a Quick Note About GNS and Podcastle subs

[ann_leckie]

So, back when I was in high school, I contracted the Arthurian Virus. I had a protracted, severe bout. It went dormant for a while, but it's chronic and incurable. Every few years it knocks me flat.

As a result of this, I have a whole bookcase in my office that's devoted entirely to Arthurian literature--medieval, modern adaptations, you name it, as well as various history books that are in some way related to the topic.

The source of the infection, by the way, was my innocent, bored rambling among the shelves of my local library, looking for something to read. I saw something called "The Last Enchantment" by Mary Stewart, and it had a shiny gold cover and looked like it might be kind of fantasy-ish, and I had Saturday afternoon to kill, so what the hell, I checked it out. Be warned, don't do this. Start with The Crystal Cave instead.

So, here's the thing. I'm not by any means an expert in Arthurian literature, medieval literature, Post-Roman Britain, etc. I am merely a hobbyist. Still. If you've seen Camelot and/or read T.H. White (or read The Mists of Avalon, but I'm finding a cursory knowledge of Malory and White, dimly remembered from school, is most common in the slush I've seen) and thought you'd dash off a fantasy story using Arthurian themes or characters without any further reading--especially if you're trying to situate the story in a "realistic" historical period (for instance, the previously mentioned Post-Roman Britain, or more commonly the generic "middle ages" most people associate with Arthur), it will be incredibly obvious to me. Like, bright, flashing red lights obvious. And such a story is extremely unlikely to satisfy me in any way.

Just thought I'd mention that.

Disclaimer--I'm not saying one has to have read a million obscure texts, or even any particular famous text, to do what I would consider good work with Arthurian material. I'm saying that you ought to know the material you're using pretty darn well, and be aware of the way others have often used it in the recent past. The "dash off" part in the sentence above is important. Also see previous entries about not working ideas hard enough, and just reaching for the first thought that comes to mind. Also insert a rant here about worldbuilding and generic European medieval settings.

Besides, a little extra reading never hurt anyone.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved The Crystal Cave! I can still vividly recall the pictures that I drew and stuck on my wall after reading that!

I can see how people would want to dash off stories when they're in the grips of Arthurian virus. Are there fannish places where people can share that stuff? Get a little love for their virus-induced writings, even if they're not quite up to publishable standards? (Asking idly... don't search for an answer for me. I haven't written anything like this, and if i knew someone who had, I'd instruct them to go searching for themselves)

[ann-leckie.livejournal.com]

I don't know if there's such a place or not. Though I assume there is, as I assume there's a repository for any imaginable sort of fanfic on the net.

[ann-leckie.livejournal.com]

Also, I think you must be right, if I'd dashed off fiction in the grip of the virus, it would likely have strongly resembled the stuff I see in slush. I should remember that before I shout "read more!" in frustration at the screen, shouldn't I.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Not at all! I find your Read more! posts highly entertaining. It's very frustrating to be an editor, and I think it's fine to gripe about it. But I do think a lot of people are just -- not in the zone at all, if you know what I mean. They probably really do just need redirecting** to a place where they can enthuse and be happy. And then when they've settled down, if they feel like it, they can try writing something new and challenging and so on.

**Not to say that it's your job to do that, though. Plus, sadly, well-meant attempts to send someone to an appropriate place could come off as sounding snarky or condescending. It's kind of a no-win situation. They'll figure stuff out. Or not!

[marycatelli]

But you didn't. That's an important distinction.

Now, me, I'm glad I never mastered the art of finishing a story as an adolescent. Even an adolescent realizes that her story has to end before it can be submitted. No doubt it spared some editors some awful rubbish.