Do your projects have a specfic element (this includes a sci-fi story that needs Research for veracity) or are you writing straight historicals? If they are specfic, which takes precedence, the fantastical element or history/true life? Where is your emphasis? How do you reconcile the two? How do you know that the magic, mythology-come-true, or what ( Read more... )

The other day, I also meant to ask: Does the word "tatterdemalion" mean anything to you? Please don't look it up before responding; I really want to know if you have any prior associations with the word. Comments are screened, so feel free to tell me what you know about it or any guesses you have.

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me how religions which believe in reincarnation view sin and what are the terms/ideas applied to it? What is the principle behind it? Is it like "missing the mark"? Is it a crime against self? A higher power? Fellow human beings? Are there degrees of transgressions or are all sins equally bad? What do the practitioners strive toward ( Read more... )

I posted this on the OWW mailing list, too, but someone on my friends list might be able to give me an answer, too:

I'm writing a birth scene and since gathering firsthand data on this would take several more months than I have, I would appreciate it if you mothers could answer a few questions for me about the joys involved.

Do you feel pain (or ( Read more... )