Writing about what you know?

This age-old question is right now at the forefront of my mind. There are those who say an author should write about what they know (wouldn’t that make literature boring?) and those who say the opposite. Certainly, fantasy fiction wouldn’t exist if everyone wrote about what they knew.

I am one for a mix of both: write about what you know if what you know is interesting, and go on wonderful flights of fancy just as well, but most of all, research research research.

I find nothing more grating than badly researched stories, and I cannot suspend disbelief when it becomes too obvious that the facts just aren’t correct.

However, when it comes to emotions, how can we writers get those right? We can’t experience all of the emotions we are writing about, so we have to try and get that far into our characters and their motivations, that we will get it right – the extremes as well as the subtleties.

There is nothing more rewarding than a story where the author got it right and the reader can feel with the characters, isn’t there?

Defence Image Database (website)

Yes, I know it is already Friday. Sorry, folks, but I did so much Phys last night that I was simply too tired to post. 🙂

Image © MOD, for review purposes

I mentioned the Defence Image Database before, but I figure it is worth doing it again. It is a veritable treasure trove by the Ministry of Defence for UK Armed Forces photos. Once upon a time one could download them without any watermarking, but alas, this is not the case anymore. However, what is a little watermark in an otherwise excellent image? There is some stunning photography on there, the quality is ever improving. I am quite impressed. The Armed Forces have internal photography competitions, which might be part of why they seem to move from “snaps” to real photography.

If you wonder about anything at all, machinery, weaponry, vehicles, just search for it in the database and you will find it. Of course, if you search for military eye candy, that, you will find, too.  😉

UK Armed Forces: Defence Image Database

Royal Marines King’s Squad

During my extensive research for my upcoming novel Basic Training I read a lot about the Passing Out parade of new Royal Marines, after their 32 week long Basic Training. The first part of the novel plays in Lympstone, during Basic Training, and here is a link to the MoD Royal Marines website on the History of the Commando Training Centre.

I also found some very useful videos on YouTube, as I mention in an earlier post, using YouTube for writing research is an excellent way to gain insights beyond images and words.

This is an excerpt from Basic Training, about Pass Out week and King’s Squad (Excerpt copyright © Marquesate 2009):

As expected, this earned Col some questioning looks, and he went on to explain the passing out tradition of the Royal Marines, which originated with a visit by King George V in 1918 to the Royal Marines in Deal in Kent, where he inspected the recruit squads. To mark his visit, the King decreed that each passing-out platoon should be called The King’s Squadron, a tradition that continued to the present day, and which meant that successful recruits would spend the last week in special accommodation in the King’s Squad wing.

The following photos are all from the MoD website. Copyright © MoD. Without permission.

French Foreign Legion Meta Post

I realised the other day that I have a lot of French Foreign Legion posts scattered about. Since one can never have enough of the FLL, I am writing a meta post, that pulls them all together. But before I do that, let me ask you a question: how many legionnaires fit into a portaloo? Answer: many! 😀

Photo copyright their copyright owner. Without permission.

April 2009:
French Foreign Legion: Sexy Legionnaires (photos)

January 2009:
French Foreign Legion Recruitment Video

December 2008:
French Foreign Legion – Joining Up

December 2008:
French Foreign Legion: Daily Schedule

November 2008:
French Foreign Legion: Ranks

November 2008:
The Legionnaire’s Code of Honour

November 2008:
Légion étrangère: Soldiers and Regiments of the French Foreign Legion

November 2008:
French Foreign Legion – Beautiful Bodies (photos)

November 2008:
French Foreign Legion video: Warriors of the FLL

October 2008:
French Foreign Legion – Names and Identities

September 2008:
Homosexuality in the French Foreign Legion

September 2008:
The French Foreign Legion – song (video)

September 2008:
French Foreign Legion – Documentary (video)

September 2008:
The French Foreign Legion – Légion étrangère

Can you tell I was doing most of y research on the FLL when I wrote Code of Honour?

The necessities of facts in military fiction – and the need for the opposite at times

Writing military fiction comes with its own complications, and that is: how realistic can one be? With that I mean: how factually correct am I allowed to be? Is it acceptable to describe in great detail some tactical manoeuvre or rule of engagement that is actually real and is being practised?

No, it is not. It’s forbidden (need I mention OPSEC et al?) and obviously pretty damn stupid an idea, for very apparent reason. Wouldn’t want to tell anyone the tricks of the trade if those tricks come properly from within instead of from freely available books and other visual or textual sources, right? (and sure as hell wouldn’t want to drop anyone who provides me with the insider info into the shit)

Apart from the obvious above, would it really add to the overall enjoyment of the story if I went down that route (if that route were allowed?) Would the heart and guts of the story (the focus on the lust – and possibly love – of a character, benefit from an extensive account of a FIBUA Exercise?

I dare say that it wouldn’t.

So, while I like to get this right, I shall never get them correct, if you know what I mean. Because I choose to, and because I have to. What I will get “correct”, though, is the character, in all his trials and tribulations and with all his foibles. And, of course, that of his counterpart …

The above, I hasten to add, is no excuse for shoddy research and stories set in the military (or in any other setting for that matter) that are utterly and totally and painfully wrong.

Photo Copyright  © MOD. Without permission.

Book Recommendation: Combat Techniques – the SAS & Elite Forces Guide

This is an excellent and very up-to-date book with over 150 illustrations. The book is by Chris McNab and Martin J. Dougherty and it is from 2007.

I found this book in a bargain shop of all places in a small village in the Scottish Highlands and of course had to buy it, because it seemed essential for my writing research. It is, indeed. Some of the chapters include Infantry Firepower, Infantry Tactics, Tactical Terrain, Special Forces, and Counter-Insurgency Warfare. I am particularly impressed by the diagrams and illustrations in addition to the photos.

To quote from the UK Naval & Military Press website:

There are chapters on weapons, tactics, heavy support, – such as air, armour, and artillery – as well as on special situations facing a battlefield commander – including commanding an air strike; handling and firing weapons in conditions of extreme heat or cold; rescuing hostages; amphibious assaults and evading capture. To bring the manual bang up to today’s wars, there are also chapters on counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency – with pictures of a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan to match. Illustrated with more than 150 action photographs and artwork, with examples of real ambushes and battles this is a book for real soldiers and armchair enthusiasts alike.
Quote copyright © Naval & Military Press

Of course, what they forgot to mention is how useful this book is for researchers and researching writers!

Buy COMBAT TECHNIQUES: THE SAS & ELITE FORCES GUIDE: Modern Infantry Tactics, Weapons and Systems from

• Naval & Military Press (currently on an excellent bargain promotion)
• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com

Royal Engineers Museum and Library

I have been a member of the The Friends of the Royal Engineers Museum (FoREM) for many years – and for reasons that probably not many people would become a friend of a Museum to support it.

First and foremost, it is a brilliant museum, it really is. I have been to many UK military museums, and the quality of the displays at RE Museum in Chatham/Gillingham (on the grounds of the RSME) is only matched by the Tank museum in Bovington. Granted, so I got to get into a Challenger II main battle tank in Bovington and have a play, which might mean I am rather positively inclined towards that place (the Challie was obviously not in the museum, it was a work horse, so to speak) and actually, that shows how good the RE museum really is. It has very good displays, fascinating heavy machinery (sexy stuff!) and very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff. I have never been in there without getting the extra tour treatment.

So, if you are anywhere near Kent, do visit the museum and think of Tom and Alex, because this is the building where Tom gives Alex …

Royal Engineers Museum Website

Royal Engineers Museum on Facebook (with some great photos of the museum building)

Her Majesty’s Men – Setting and Visualisation

Have you ever wondered if the setting of Her Majesty’s Men was real (yes it is!) and where it is and what it looks like? Did you try to picture where Tom and Alex sat after their bust-up and the fight-sex in the sleet? Or where Alex’s house is, where Tom’s Mess room is (I moved it from the RSME to Kitchener barracks down the rooms, which is actually transit accom, but I took the creative license) or any of the other visuals?

Wonder no longer. Here is a whole set of photos that I took in the area for the purpose of visuals. After all, if one uses a real place, why not show it to the readers.

The main entrance to the Royal School of Military Engineering (no pics from the inside, of course.)

The King George V pub

The pub from the entrance. Tom and Alex’s favourite seat is to the right, closest to the entrance, not shown in this pic, but the next one.

The other pub, just round the corner, where the younger / lower ranking squaddies would go, it’s a lot more raucous, and basically literally round the corner.

The gym that belongs to the RSME.

The main road, driving up from Chatham Historic Dockyard, the small roads to the right lead to the Cannon and the KGV pubs.

Last but not least the road leading to the MOD housing estate, where I placed Alex’s house. This is the estate for soldiers of “other ranks” i.e. non-commissioned with families. This road is the one from the KGV on the corner with the cannon to the right, and if you went to the left you’d get to the RSME. It is all very close together.

French Foreign Legion: Daily Schedule

Photo © copyright its owner. Without permission.

One never knows when this particular bit of information might come in handy, aye?

Daily Schedule

6:00 AM – Wake up, roll call
6:30 AM – Cleaning details
7:00 AM – Rassamblement: start of the work day. Activities vary, such as going for a run, swimming, rope climbing or skip the workout for the day and go straight to work.
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Work
12:00 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Prise de travail
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Work
After that legionnaires are free to do what they want, but as far as I understand, not to go out. Lights out is at 10 PM.

Book Review: Highway to Hell by John Geddes

Well, I bought this book when I was writing Dan in Special Forces as a Merc (PMC it is, these days, but they are still just as much Mercenaries as they were before the fancy new name Private Military Contractors)

It is a very interesting book which gives great insight into the private military forces in Iraq, etc. They are vast, and the details Geddes comes up with are most useful for anyone writing or thinking of writing fiction set in this arena.

However. And there is always a ‘however’ with me, isn’t there? I wanted to smack the author (an ex-SAS chap) repeatedly over the head. He comes across as an arrogant and annoying twit, but I guess that’s to be expected.

The writing is better than with a lot of these books (just see Carew’s Jihad! as a painful example) but don’t expect literary joy with any of these products in the genre. Do expect, however, very useful insider material. I got the hardback, by the way, it was on offer a couple of years or so ago. You can now only get the paperback in the UK, unless you want the hardback second hand for a few pence. In the US they only sell the hardback.

Amazon.co.uk: Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell on Amazon.com

Légion étrangère: Soldiers and Regiments of the French Foreign Legion

I thought it would be of interest to have a look at the regiments of the French Foreign Legion.

Photo of the FLL at Bastille Day © copyright Hugo Haas, without permission.

There are 10 regiments in the French Foreign Legion and about 7500 soldiers:

• 1 RE – Stationed in Aubagne, the headquarters of the Legion
• 1 REC – The Legion’s calvary regiment, stationed in Orange, France
• 1 REG – The first of the two engineering regiments, stationed in Laudun, France
• 2 REI – One of the two regiments of infantry, stationed in Nimes
• 2 REP – The paratroopers (elite force) of 2 REP, stationed at Calvi on the island of Corsica
• 2 REG – The second engineering regiment, stationed in St. Christol in the French Alps
• 3 REI – The second regiment of infantry, stationed in French Guiana
• 4 RE – Boot camp in Castelnaudary and specialism training site
• DLEM – Detachment de la Legion Etrangere du Mayotte
• 13 DBLE – The demi-brigade de la Legion Etrangere, stationed in Djibouti

And since I won’t be at a computer over the weekend, I shall prepare tomorrow’s post and then I shall be back on Monday.

French Foreign Legion video: Warriors of the FLL

This was recommended by a chap in the French Foreign Legion, so I guess the video might be a good one. Anyone feeling inspired yet?

French Foreign Legion – Names and Identities

(Photo © copyright its owner, without permission)

I could write a whole post about identity, but … that would be written by Marquesate the Real Life person and we don’t want that, now do we? Oh no. We don’t. Never the twain shall meet. 😉

Instead have a post about La Legion Etrangere and the way names are chosen for the legionnaires at the start and how long they keep those.

In my quest to get a good m/m writer to write a military gay erotica story featuring the French Foreign Legion, I decided to post bits of information in easily digestible form I have come across my internet trawlings, and some of those are gems, trust me.

Every man who is accepted into the FLL is given an assumed name at the time of signing up. This is mandatory for the first year, but after becoming a legionnaire first class, they may ask for their old name back. The way names are chosen is not arbitrary in the sense that everyone is given a francophone name, on the contrary. There is a “Big Book of Names across the World”, which consists of the real names of former recruits who have changed back to their real names. New names are chosen out of this book in accordance with the nationality of the recruit.

For example, a British recruit whose real name initial were J and C could be given the name Jack Collins.

Homosexuality in European Military Forces

Looking for information on how homosexuality is handled in the French Military Forces, I came across an excellent article by glbtq, Inc. The article is from 2004 and states that:

Attitudes and policies toward homosexuality and gay and lesbian personnel in European militaries vary widely. Several countries allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly and have granted them the same rights and privileges as their heterosexual counterparts. Other countries neither ban nor support gay and lesbian service members, and a small group continue to ban homosexual personnel outright.

The countries that have become most tolerant of homosexuality include the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. The most restrictive include Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Countries such as Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Germany lie somewhere in between on the spectrum of acceptance of homosexuality in their respective military cultures.

Great Britain is a unique case. In 2000, it lifted its long-standing ban on gay and lesbian service members, falling into line with the other Northern European countries. Yet many scholars and military officials have long characterized the British military as inhospitable to sexual minorities.

Now, while I would like to see the sources for the “many scholars and military officials” (sorry, academic here, don’t tell me a sweeping “many”, give me proof) glbtq then goes on to suggest that there seems to be “a trend toward ever greater integration of homosexuals in the military”. Something I certainly agree with. I so also agree with the general notion of the British Forces not necessarily being an inclusive place regarding the attitude of personnel, but I shall explore this in another post about a “kind of insider view”. Stay tuned.

I am a bit surprised regarding Germany (remember, though, the article is from 2004 and things might have changed since) and I promise to look into this. After all, I do speak that language fluently. 😉 There shall be a later post that looks more closely at countries’ militaries and their legal stance on homosexuality.

Photo © copyright its owner, without permission.

UK Forces: Civilian clothes in the Mess

Just a quick bit of info for anyone feeling inclined to write in a UK military setting. If you have your characters be in the Mess (e.g. Sergeants and Warrant Officers Mess), may they live there or be in the mess in Civilian clothes for whatever reasons, if they are males, they will always, always wear a top with a collar.

So, never have your character in a collarless t-shirt (unless they are in PT kit and on their way to and from Phys), but have them in a shirt instead, or in a polo-shirt. Anything’s fine, as long as it has a collar.

Just sayin’. It’s the little details that make it real, aye? 🙂