Fantasy Writing Category
The Writer’s Guide to Besieging a Castle
Posted on December 3, 2021 42 Comments
Even though castles could be easily avoided by an invading force, it was often a bad idea. Attacks could be launched from them, with the soldiers retreating to their safety. During much of medieval Europe, if you wanted to take territory you had to deal with the castle of its king or lord. This usually […]
The Writer’s Guide to Castle Construction
Posted on November 19, 2021 2 Comments
If you’ve read my previous posts, The Writer’s Guide to Castles and The Writer’s Guide to Castle Defenses, you have probably realized that there were many types of castles throughout European history. As a result, the cost and time involved in castle construction varied widely. If you are planning to have a castle under construction […]
The Writer’s Guide to Castle Defenses
Posted on November 12, 2021 2 Comments
Castles have been romanticized for centuries, to the point where we forget their use. First, they were a home. Second, they were a series of carefully designed kill zones. Today I will cover the features most seen in castles and their purpose. I will limit this article to medieval Europe since that is when and […]
The Writer’s Guide to Castles
Posted on November 5, 2021 1 Comment
From the Red Keep to Cair Paravel to Skyhold, castles have loomed large in fantasy and are a familiar part of the landscape of movies, TV shows, video games, and books. They are a favorite among writers and often grab the imagination of readers and viewers. However, unless you live in Europe, most writers don’t […]
The Writer’s Guide to Shields
Posted on October 29, 2021 46 Comments
Today I will be covering some of the most common misconceptions of shields that I see in movies, TV shows, and books. Again, my focus is on medieval Europe since that is where most of my expertise is. If you want a guide to types of medieval shields, please visit my previous post here. As […]
The Writer’s Guide to Types of Shields
Posted on October 22, 2021 55 Comments
The shield is almost as iconic as the sword when it comes to fiction and legend. Just like the sword, since it is not a commonly encountered item, most modern writers are lacking in accurate information. There is unfortunately a lot of misinformation presented as fact. Today we will be looking at types of shields. […]
The Writer’s Guide to 1820s Women’s Fashion
Posted on June 4, 2021 47 Comments
With the death of King George III of England in 1820 and the coronation of George IV, the Regency era was over. Bright saturated colors and patterns came into vogue. Rows of trim and tucks, fluttering ribbons and shimmering gauzes and bobbin lace were used with abandon. After years under the rule of an old […]
The Writer’s Guide to 1550-1600 Men’s Fashion
Posted on March 19, 2021 1 Comment
Although the fashions of the second half of the 16th century were dominated by England’s Elizabeth I, the men of this period were not about to fade into the background. Middle- and upper-class men were peacocks in their own right and dressed to impress and show off their social status and wealth. Underwear Just as […]
The Writer’s Guide to 1500-1550 Men’s Fashion
Posted on March 12, 2021 3 Comments
As I mentioned in my article on early 16th century women’s clothing, fashion of the first half of the period was dominated by male trend-setters including Henry VIII, Francis I and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Almost everyone can picture the famous portrait of Henry VIII wearing a slashed and embroidered doublet and a fur-lined […]
The Writer’s Guide to 1550-1600 Women’s Fashion
Posted on March 5, 2021 1 Comment
While the fashion of the first half of the 16th century was dominated by men such as England’s Henry VIII, France’s Francis I and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, the styles of the second half of the century were dictated by one woman: England’s Elizabeth I. She set the standard for most of Europe […]
Rebecca Shedd - Author 