History geek @dragomirova - Tumblr Blog

WIP Day

tagged by: no one, even though this is an ideal thing for me to be tagged in since I just have so many wips

I'd have so many to choose from but here's some dundstudies since he has started living in my head.

tagging: @amatterofgeography and uhh.. other people. If you have wips consider yourself tagged.

I’ve got a lot of Thoughts(tm) about The Odyssey at the moment, but damnit Blum I’m an archer, not a film critic, so here’s something in my lane!

dragonesseclectic

As someone who read the Odyssey translation all the way through, I note that Odysseus's bow was not a standard Greek bow (whatever those were like). It was a storied bow that went through many illustrious hands before being gifted to him, that originated with the steppe nomads--i.e., it was a Scythian horse bow. A composite bow that is impossible to string if you don't know the trick of it. Blum doesn't mention that, but his brief diagram was that of a composite bow, so I assume he knows that.

Also the axe heads thing? That was a test of accuracy and adequate draw, not armor-piercing. Axe heads had a hole through them for mounting on the haft. Line up twelve of those with the holes in a line, and you have to shoot very straight to go through all 12 holes. Also the bow has to be correctly drawn or the arrow will drop during flight due to lack of kinetic energy and fail to go through all 12 holes. Arrows from a partially-drawn bow (lack of strength), or badly-strung bow (as demonstrated) won't fly straight and true.

alexseanchai

@auressea if I'm understanding this correctly, then yes, it's a flavor of recurve bow

applerums

at the low low price of a couple children lives, WE CAN SAVE THE WORLD!

agoodjake54-deactivated20150429

Jinkies

Jeepers!

Zoinks!

Ruh roh!

paperandpencilsandskips

FUCK

pirateprincessjess

My favorite part of this post is that it implies Fred is the one saying “FUCK” because we know who typically says the other 4 things

notaplaceofhonour

which makes sense as he’s the one who actually legally owns it

alexseanchai

[image: a van painted to match the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. its engine is on fire.]

disgruntledinametallicatshirt

you know what actually pisses me off? when I finally start to feel a smidge of confidence in my writing ability and then some JERK POSTS A SINGLE LINE FROM A TERRY PRATCHETT NOVEL AND IT’S BETTER THAN ANYTHING I WILL EVER WRITE NO MATTER HOW MANY MILLENNIA I SPEND TRYING!

thebaconsandwichofregret

Terry was a professional writer from the age of 17. He worked as a journalist which meant that he had to learn to research, write and edit his own work very quickly or else he’d lose his job.

He was 23 when his first novel was published. After six years of writing professionally every single day. The Carpet People was a lovely novel, from a lovely writer, but almost all of Terry’s iconic truth bomb lines come from Discworld.

The Colour of Magic, the first ever Discworld novel was published in 1983. Terry was 35 years old. He had been writing professionally for 18 years. His career was old enough to vote, get married and drink. We now know that at 35 he was, tragically, over half way through his life. And do you know what us devoted, adoring Discworld fans say about The Colour of Magic? “Don’t start with Colour of Magic.”

It is the only reading order rule we ever give people. Because it’s not that great. Don’t get me wrong, very good book, although I’ll be honest I’ve never been able to finish it, but it’s nowhere near his later stuff. Compare it to Guards Guards, The Fifth Elephant, the utterly iconic Nightwatch and it pales in comparison because even after nearly 20 years of writing, half a lifetime of loving books and storytelling Terry was still learning.

He was a man with a wonderful natural talent, yes. But more importantly he worked and worked and worked to be a better writer. He was writing up until days before he died. He spent 49 years learning and growing as a writer, taking so much joy in storytelling that not even Alzheimer’s could steal it from him. He wouldn’t want that joy stolen from you too.

Terry was a wonderful, kind, compassionate, genius of a writer. And all of this was in spite of many many people telling him he wasn’t good enough. At the age of five his headmaster told him that he would never amount to anything. He died a knight of the realm and one of the most beloved writers ever to have lived in a country with a vast and rich literary tradition. He wouldn’t let anyone tell him that he wasn’t good enough. And he wouldn’t want you to think you aren’t good enough. He especially wouldn’t want to be the reason why you think you aren’t good enough.

You’re not Terry Pratchett.

You are you.

And Terry would love that.

rsfcommonplace

I only ever had a chance to talk to Terry Pratchett once, and that was in an autograph line. I’d bought a copy of The Carpet People, which was his very first book, and he looked at it with a faint air of concern. “You realise that I wrote that when I was very young,” he said, in warning.

“Yes,” I said. “But I like seeing how authors grow.”

He brightened and reached for his pen. “That’s all right then,” he said, and signed.

spiritcc

You fucking what

blurds

this is the funniest thing I’ve seen in weeks

luxshine

The “Thunk” will always kill me.

falconratesbirds

14/10 doing his best

littleguysdaily

bobbole

Anthony Machuca, Wake up Steve, our bowls are empty

fitzloser

tell those who come after us not to stay. the ships are gone. there is no way through, no passage.

rasskaz4ik

The Director [5/?]

ramyeongif

ADHD

i-am-a-stupid-robot

frankhermann

actually annoyed by long distance friends again. i want to go for a walk i want to get drinks i want to sit in the grass and write i want to go to the fucking store together

statictay

btw i chose to believe that anytime you see trench smoking it's the same cigarette. he's been smoking that one magic cigarette that came with the ashtray object of power for his entire tenure as director

#ааааа #that makes so much sense #economical #practical #also since the ashtray hides the smoke might hide too #imagine trench just slowly smoking up a room #world's slowest camouflague