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Post by Sharpiefan on Apr 22, 2015 21:39:08 GMT
I thought I'd let you know about this year's letter-writing project run by the HMS Acasta reenactment group. I figured we're all writers who have an interest in the period in question, so it wouldn't hurt to raise awareness of it. (The event is set in 1815, for those of you who are curious.) Details are here on the Acasta blog. SF
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Post by Sharpiefan on May 10, 2015 14:28:12 GMT
I have actually written something this year, oh my life! and have been reliably informed that my writing is as hard to make out at times as a proper period hand (altho' I am certain my writing bears little resemblance to period handwriting, I did manage to get the capitals, at least, to look right. ) Has anyone else written something to send? SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on May 12, 2015 2:51:51 GMT
I plan on it, although I haven't had time to do anything yet. For me, the hardest part is coming up with something interesting to say.
Last week I came across a book with letter templates; maybe that will help, along with reading some period literature to get my mind into the turns of phrase.
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on May 12, 2015 14:29:19 GMT
I guess it helps that I RP that period and have tuned in pretty well to how things were phrased then.
Also, if it helps, they're recreating 1815, in line with the bicentenaries of the War of 1812 (I did have to ask myself, so that I'd be able to come up with something.)
SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Jun 4, 2015 17:49:02 GMT
That does help, Sharpie. So the letter could be anywhere from a year old, to about June of 1815.
Last year I wrote a letter to the ship's chaplain and included a copy of a pamphlet (a re-creation that I made myself) written by Robert Owens that was making the rounds in 1814. My letter had a brief discussion of its contents and the ramifications it could have for society. It was a lot of fun to write and put together -- I did a ton of research about what it would have looked like, how it would have been mailed, etc.
Another one was a letter of debt from a French company, and I had a blast making the letterhead. I found some images online of similar stuff and used that for inspiration. I even translated it into French, which was a stretch since it has been many (many) years since I used, let alone took French in school.
Last year, between my students and myself, I think I put ten missives into the packet. This year... not sure what I'll do. But I cannot let the packet go by while I have ink and paper within reach.
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Jun 4, 2015 18:50:03 GMT
I have sent off two, and was disappointed in that the seal of the first would not work the way I had hoped - I wrote from my own persona as a soldier of the 50th Foot and had hoped to be able to use a uniform button to seal the letter, but there was some issue and the seal did not 'take' (it didn't help that our buttons are slightly domed, rather than being flat). The other was more business-like. I wish I had better handwriting, to have been able to emulate something written by a clerk, but there it is. I have so many options and things I could give them for next year's, too. SF
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