[TheForge] Jane doing Research

[Phlip]

Ene bichizh ogsen baina shuu...

  Now here's a radical approach for
> you:  If this character is central to your novel, consider apprenticing
> yourself for a year to a blacksmith doing work from the period that you
> want to write about, then you can write from your heart, not some file
> cards of bits and pieces of information...
> Stephen

Trying to make another steel junkie aren't cha, Stephen?

;-)

But, seriously, milady, he's got it right. I could do what you're trying to
do, but I've been beating steel for 15 years- and working towards going back
farther in history, every time I pick up my hammer. Really, though, the only
way you're going to understand how the details of what we tell you fit
together into a unified whole, is by actually spending time in a shop,
helping, getting your hands dirty, and cussing that clinker that just fell
down your boot top ;-)

There's just so much involved in it, from the smell of the coal or the
charcoal, to coking the fire, to finding the heart of it to place your
piece, even to the proper clothing to wear, and why. If you're near one of
us, I'm sure most of us would be happy to let you play on our forges.

And, we need more women smiths- I have a BLAZES of a time keeping all these
guys straight ;-)

Phlip

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a
cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....