Gecks
Scribe
(I couldn't really decide which sub-forum was the best place for me to post this. In the end, I decided this was the most relevant place. I apologise if I should have posted elsewhere).
I have been becoming increasingly aware that I tend to lack certain knowledge about certain subjects (primarily horses, weapons, and clothing, though the latter isn't so bad). Also, provisions, food while travelling, tools, sleeping arrangements while travelling, water, etc.
I have basic knowledge about things, but nothing very detailed and I'm concerned I'm going to write down something jarringly awfully wrong without realising it.
So far I either get overly bogged down in attempted research or just become a bit vague (eg. not mention too specifically what someone is wearing, especially when it comes to materials.. uh..). But I feel as though I should know things like this about my characters/world in detail.
An awful lot of fantasy gets set in a time period vaguely equivalent to somewhere between perhaps the 10th and 15th century in our world and I suppose a lot of people aren't exactly experts on the topic. Having dreadful inaccuracies in the middle of a story can really grate, and drag the reader out of believing what's going on, unless the difference between the fantasy world and equivalent for our world in that time period is explained or, for some other reason, not relevant in that world.
Actual question:
What are the most common mistakes you see in fantasy writing, or the ones that annoy you the most? Especially to do with historical inaccuracies. Any particular common mistakes I could avoid?
I have been becoming increasingly aware that I tend to lack certain knowledge about certain subjects (primarily horses, weapons, and clothing, though the latter isn't so bad). Also, provisions, food while travelling, tools, sleeping arrangements while travelling, water, etc.
I have basic knowledge about things, but nothing very detailed and I'm concerned I'm going to write down something jarringly awfully wrong without realising it.
So far I either get overly bogged down in attempted research or just become a bit vague (eg. not mention too specifically what someone is wearing, especially when it comes to materials.. uh..). But I feel as though I should know things like this about my characters/world in detail.
An awful lot of fantasy gets set in a time period vaguely equivalent to somewhere between perhaps the 10th and 15th century in our world and I suppose a lot of people aren't exactly experts on the topic. Having dreadful inaccuracies in the middle of a story can really grate, and drag the reader out of believing what's going on, unless the difference between the fantasy world and equivalent for our world in that time period is explained or, for some other reason, not relevant in that world.
Actual question:
What are the most common mistakes you see in fantasy writing, or the ones that annoy you the most? Especially to do with historical inaccuracies. Any particular common mistakes I could avoid?