I woke up in a cold sweat, realizing I had written a scene about four rowers ferrying four passengers across the Wantsum Channel in a small skiff.
What’s wrong with that? My historical fantasy novel is set in 5th-century Britannia and I wasn’t sure if my rowboat was anachronistic.
I find myself wondering about odd things:
“Of course they had small, rowed watercraft at that time,” you say.
But did they?
(Spoiler Alert: It turns out they probably did, but that isn’t the point. Social-Media-Me screams, “That’s not how click-bait works, Chris!”)
The point is that I needed to be reasonably sure. Because that’s how my brain works.
Fortunately, an internet search turned up a solid example:
It likely sailed, but looking at recreations, I can easily imagine four sets of oars with enough space for the four passengers in my scene.
Satisfied, I could go back to sleep. But now it is 8am. Might as well get up, post this online, and resume editing.
#writerslife #novelresearch #amediting #historicalfiction
