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Commencing Requisite Introduction:
#1
Hello, friends! I'm Ahavah, real name Amanda, and I've joined to learn more about Rome. I'll freely admit to knowing very little at the moment, but I hope you'll put up with my ignorance for a bit. I've been doing some reading lately, but I've only just begun to skim the surface.

Is anyone familiar with NaNoWriMo? [url:ee3pzsgn]http://www.nanowrimo.org/[/url] It's an experiment in pure madness, as writers across the globe attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in November. Or, if you're a world-class procrastinator like myself, 2 weeks (because you put off starting until today).

I'm wanting to write about a Roman soldier who converts after witnessing the death of Christ. Since NaNo is about quantity, not quality, it will surely suck. Also, I'm one of those writers who tends to get bogged in research and never finish, so that's why I wanted to jump on the ball and do it this way. My novel will no doubt be filled with reams of historical inaccuracy, but that's what rewrites are for. I'm hoping to get it as true as possible, and in the meantime, learn enough that I'm not wandering too far off base.

So far my soldier is a centurion, and I think he'll be the one who pierced Jesus's side and was 'baptized' with his blood. I've tried to think of how I can get him to resign his position without being killed as a deserter (which would make for a short novel, indeed). I figure he's one of Pilate's trusted officers, though young - and he has to be young, since I think I want to kill him in old age in Pompeii - and possibly had a father who is either a well-respected general or senator. Something. Strings would definitely have to be pulled.

I'm definitely open to suggestions.

So, that's me and why I'm here. I've looked around, and this is one of the best places I've found. Looks like you all are just overflowing with knowledge, so I hope you'll bear with me. I'm looking forward to learning and making friends!

Thanks!
§ Amanda §

[url:1we2j43f]http://www.livejournal.com/users/ahavah_ehyeh/[/url]
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#2
Welcome, Ahavah!
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-Tom
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#3
Quote:I'll freely admit to knowing very little at the moment, but I hope you'll put up with my ignorance for a bit.
Thanks to the gods for that, you'll distract from me for a while :wink: Welcome aboard.
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
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#4
Hello and welcome.
Hasn't your basic idea -the conversion of a centurion present at the death of Christ- already been used?

How about:
1) the life of a founding member of the Christian community of Rome itself, maybe a wealthy artisocrat (some of the first places of worship were private houses);
2) the life of some the of lesser known (unknown) apostle;
3) the later life of Pilate;...
4) ...
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
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#5
Thanks for the welcome!

Goffredo, I'm afraid that every basic idea has already been used. Still, I've committed myself to this one, and hopefully I'll do it well.
§ Amanda §

[url:1we2j43f]http://www.livejournal.com/users/ahavah_ehyeh/[/url]
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#6
Greetings Ahavah
welcome to RAT, hope you enjoy it around here with all the male company.... :lol:
regards
Arthes
Cristina
The Hoplite Association
[url:n2diviuq]http://www.hoplites.org[/url]
The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
-
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#7
Am I the only female, then?

Just the odds I've always needed!

:lol:

edit to realize you're also a woman. Still pretty decent odds. :wink:
§ Amanda §

[url:1we2j43f]http://www.livejournal.com/users/ahavah_ehyeh/[/url]
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#8
Greetings,
Quote:Am I the only female, then?
Just the odds I've always needed!
:lol:
edit to realize you're also a woman. Still pretty decent odd. :wink:
there are a couple of others lurking...(RAT was actually founded by a woman.....!) but we are definitely in the minority!
regards
Arthes
Cristina
The Hoplite Association
[url:n2diviuq]http://www.hoplites.org[/url]
The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
-
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#9
Hi Ahavah

Welcome! I'm female too! Unfortunately I do late Roman, so probably won't be much use for early Roman questions. But at least the Late Roman Empire was officially Christian 8)

btw, have you heard of the Historical Novel Society? It's for readers and writers: http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/
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#10
Quote:Thanks for the welcome!

Goffredo, I'm afraid that every basic idea has already been used. Still, I've committed myself to this one, and hopefully I'll do it well.

Don't worry about the idea already being done. Look how many books there are about space wars!
AVETE OMNES
MARIVS TARQVINIVS VRSVS
PATER FAMILIAS DOMVS VRSVM
-Tom
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#11
Or King Arthur! I've collected dozens and dozens of novels, just about that story!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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