Historical Writing Category
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 5 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 6 Comments
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 114 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 127 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 Victorian Clothing Myths
Posted on October 15, 2021 96 Comments
The corset tends to take the spotlight when it comes to misinformation about Victorian dress. But there are myths surrounding other articles of clothing that have been repeated in books, TV shows, and movies. If you are interested in corset myths, I suggest reading my two articles here and here. Hoop Skirts Were Solid Hoop […]
The Writer’s Guide to Corset Myths
Posted on October 8, 2021 19 Comments
Part 2 Today we are busting more corset myths. If you want to read Part 1, please go here. Passing Out The image of the swooning lady is one of the most lasting of the Victorian era. Were some women passing out because they had laced down too severely? I’m sure there were. I personally […]
The Writer’s Guide to Corset Myths
Posted on October 1, 2021 147 Comments
Part 1 When people find out I’m a historical reenactor and routinely wear a corset, I am asked several outlandish questions. Have I ever passed out? Have my organs moved? Isn’t that thing incredibly uncomfortable? I was told by a former coworker once that if anyone wears a corset, they will die. Obviously, there are […]
The Writer’s Guide to the History of Corsets & Other Boned Garments
Posted on September 24, 2021 20 Comments
There are few garments in human history that are surrounded by more myths and misinformation than corsets. Some wild claims have been made about the effects of corsetry and the reasons why women and men wore corsets. Today we will be diving into the history of boned and laced garments and over the next two […]
The Writer’s Guide to 1890s Men’s Fashion
Posted on September 17, 2021 108 Comments
Many of the trends from the 1880s continued into the 1890s. The trendy silhouette was slim. Fashions were becoming more informal and styles that were considered informal just a few decades prior were now appropriate for formal evening occasions or the professional office. Sportswear became important with the popularity of pastimes such as tennis, rowing, […]
Rebecca Shedd - Author 