Hello Everybody And Welcome!

[Galgatean]

greetings all

[Caya]

Hello Galgatean and welcome to the forum!

[Carol the Dabbler]

5 hours ago, Galgatean said:

greetings all

Greetings, Galgatean -- welcome to Sherlock Forum! 

 

[Galgatean]

thank you

[Arcadia]

Well, hello there! Welcome to the forum!

[Inspector Baynes]

Well, Hello to all. About time for the 'Not So Formal Introduction' perhaps.
   I am Inspector Baynes, and Inspector Baynes means me.  (A play on Tolkien and Gandalf of course.).
   Many years ago I discovered Sherlock Holmes. My sister had tried to introduce me to him, but well...that was my sister.
   One day shopping, I saw a Baring-Gould "Annotated" set, and thought 'anything worth annotating should also be worth reading.'  Of course, I was hooked.
   Soon thereafter, I discovered The Sound Of The Baskervilles, a Scion Society in Seattle, WA.  I went.  I joined.  I developed their first Website and served as their "Webmaster" for some time.
    I also wrote several essays and a poem on various aspects of the Canon which were published in our Beaten's Christmas Annual publication, the Shoso Inn Bulletin in Japan, and one at least that I recall in Canada, the Stormy Petrels group's I believe.  (It seems there were others, but my memory fails.) 
    The day came when I needed to suspend activities with them and pursue several intense years of study, provide a great deal of training, and do a bit of translation work--mostly from the Greek but a little work in Hebrew--for a new Bible translation.  (I am not a fluent Greek and/or Hebrew person, but have an incredible set of lexicons and sufficient understanding of the workings of the languages, to review others' work in them and edit/make alternative recommendations.)  
     In more recent history, Tolkien captured my attention as I reduced my involvements with the languages. I'd wanted to pursue all his writings for many years, but delayed the blessings.  My shelves are currently "Tolkien Stuffed", with almost everything he and his son Christopher have written and published, and a good number of works "about the works" as well.
    But now, it's time to "come back home" to Doyle and Sherlock.  This love has never left me.
    So...I've just rejoined the Sound of the Baskervilles, and found this forum.  (Much to your dismay it may be..!!)

Fair warning.  I am a lively sort that likes to 'be involved' so you never know what corner you'll find me peeking around, or what crevice I may be poking into.

I gave a large part of my Sherlockian Library over to the Club's lending library when I left...especially the 'older works' hard for people to find (and afford)...so I'm rebuilding some of that as needed now.

In any event, the Canon is my first love, and I'll likely focus more there than anywhere.  But I am not a 'Canonical Nerd' or 'Purist', so if FanFic is your thing bless you. I'll likely not have read it, but will be happy to.  

Best of Sherlocking to you all.  
    
   

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

Tolkien captured my attention as I reduced my involvements with the languages.

Bit of a contradiction there, isn't it -- seeing as how Tolkien was so keen on language?  Maybe you were maintaining your interest while reducing your active involvement.

4 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

Fair warning.  I am a lively sort that likes to 'be involved' so you never know what corner you'll find me peeking around, or what crevice I may be poking into.

Fair enough!

4 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

I am not a 'Canonical Nerd' or 'Purist', so if FanFic is your thing bless you. I'll likely not have read it, but will be happy to.  

The fan fiction you're most likely to find around here is based on the BBC television program Sherlock -- which is itself a sort of fan version of the canon.

 

[Inspector Baynes]

4 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Bit of a contradiction there,

Yes, in a way.  The "reduction in involvements" referred to the Greek and Hebrew languages and related work.

I have always been, and will always be, invested in 'language', continually working to improve my skills, particularly in the written form. We are losing our grasp of precision in writing. 

My 'involvement' in those language issues has been replaced now with providing editing services for 3 more authors on their current books.  I've given them the foundations they need now through editing of their introductions and early chapters, so they can finish the rest of their work and get the books back to me when done.  There'll be a lot to do there yet before they're ready to publish.  (Editing is a lot more than just the word smithing and overcoming the usual predilections for the 'meaningless that' and the 'useless do' and so many other common writing errors.  I've developed a little 'writing basics document' for them to use as they progress.)

Once the books are back I can address the heavier stuff of editing. 

Anyway, I'm all about language.

[Inspector Baynes]

25 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

BBC television program Sherlock

Yes, I've seen quite the references to this. Not having watched it yet, I'll need to do so.  (To date, Jeremy Brett is my preferred Sherlock.  His handling of the character exceeds most, and of course his 41 episodes were more closely related to Canon than most as well.)

[Carol the Dabbler]

1 hour ago, Inspector Baynes said:

I've developed a little 'writing basics document'

I'd be interested in seeing that, unless you'd prefer to keep it private.  How long is it?

1 hour ago, Inspector Baynes said:

To date, Jeremy Brett is my preferred Sherlock.

He seems to be most people's preferred Victorian Holmes.  He's mine for sure!

1 hour ago, Inspector Baynes said:

Not having watched [Sherlock] yet, I'll need to do so.

We'll be interested in hearing your impressions as you go along.  Note that the "BBC Sherlock" section of the forum has a thread for each of the episodes to date (14, counting the unaired pilot and "The Special" AKA "The Abominable Bride").

 

[Inspector Baynes]

14 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

I'd be interested in seeing that, unless you'd prefer to keep it private.  How long is it?

It's only about 3 pages of 'basic critical issues' to help a writer along, mostly dealing with the fundamentals of word crafting, not the broader issues of "editing" needing attention.  I could (and should) also include a brief list of some few of those broader issues...they are the ones that often take the more time, and are more apt to get authors into realms where they really don't want their works to go.

Any help an author gives an editor through crafting good writing from the start reduces time cleaning up the basics so the story itself can be improved and the broader editorial issues can be addressed.  The help the writer gives the editor at the beginning is far outweighed by the extended help the editor can return to the author at the end (which is really the point of editing.)

I'll tweak it up a bit and make it available somehow.  I've developed it specifically to give to each new author I might work with, and anyone else who may care.

(Eventually I will post it to my new Website too.  @Cayamade remarks that excited me to set one up again, but I'm currently struggling with how to use WordPress.  It is not the most intuitively obvious tool I've ever engaged with! There must be something fundamental I'm misunderstanding.)

14 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

We'll be interested in hearing your impressions as you go along.  Note that the "BBC Sherlock" section of the forum

I'll be happy to share, and I've seen this section though not crept into its crevices yet.  I'd like to form my own conclusions first, then enjoy others' perspectives into the mix. 

Ah life. It has no shortage of pleasures.

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

Any help an author gives an editor through crafting good writing from the start reduces time cleaning up the basics so the story itself can be improved and the broader editorial issues can be addressed.

Having been in a semblance of your shoes a few times, I fully agree!  Even worse, some of my encounters needed basic proofreading (apparently because the authors relied too heavily on their spell-checking software

3 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

I'll tweak it up a bit and make it available.

Thanks!  I'll look forward to reading it.

 

[Inspector Baynes]

On 12/16/2022 at 7:41 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

a thread for each of the episodes to date (14, counting the unaired pilot and "The Special" AKA "The Abominable Bride").

Well.  These arrive tonight, and I'll get started as time permits.
 

On 12/17/2022 at 10:09 AM, Inspector Baynes said:

I'm currently struggling with how to use WordPress

I'm still finding WordPress deucedly difficult.  It's almost like a client of some kind is needed simplifying the 'how to.'  

"Blank page, thanks.  insert a banner.  Insert a text box.  Upload a document.  Save."  Boom, done.  

Where in the world is the easy interface within WordPress to simply put a page together. 

Lacks an intuitive component altogether. I must be missing something but have very little time to sort it out.

Anyway, I'll still get you the writing document somehow soon.

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

These arrive tonight, and I'll get started as time permits.

Be sure to watch the episodes in order.  Sherlock isn't a multi-part drama as such, but the episodes do build on prior ones at times.

2 hours ago, Inspector Baynes said:

I'm still finding WordPress deucedly difficult.  ...  Where in the world is the easy interface within WordPress to simply put a page together. .....  Lacks an intuitive component....

It's been years since i used WordPress (all I've ever used was the basic free version).  I was thinking of starting a blog then, and a tech-savvy friend recommended WP, so I built the basic structure and posted one entry.  I don't recall it being too difficult, just that it took me a while to figure things out, and there were very few options.

It's possible that in the meanwhile they've changed it for the worse.  Or maybe I had already encountered bits of that sort of thing.  Are you still on a blank page, or have you been able to add anything?

 

[Inspector Baynes]

23 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Are you still on a blank page, or have you been able to add anything?

I've added nothing... can't get to a blank page... can't figure out how to eliminate the 'stuff' they have on the facing page.

But i'll tackle it again over the next couple days with a little more time.   I'm sure it's clear as mud and I just need a shower to eliminate some residue.  once i find the key to the kingdom it'll probably be a 'head-slapper.'

 

26 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Be sure to watch the episodes in order.  Sherlock isn't a multi-part drama as such, but the episodes do build on prior ones at times.

K thx. Plan to. Will be good to see how they 'settle into' their roles as well. 

I can't say I've been all that enthralled by Cumberbatch's acting skills in other things he's done, but he's not without his charm. Will be interesting to see how he handles this.  But he's certainly not a Tom Cruise, from whom I'm still seeking any vestige of an acting skill whatsoever (in spite of his mysterious popularity.)

And I trust they're well past displaying Watson as a bumbling dotard or simple dullard. Hardwicke & Burke took the portrayal well down the road to a closer sketch.

Guess I'll know soon.

[Carol the Dabbler]

1 hour ago, Inspector Baynes said:

And I trust they're well past displaying Watson as a bumbling dotard or simple dullard. Hardwicke & Burke took the portrayal well down the road to a closer sketch.

Yes, and I'd say that Freeman's Watson bears a fair resemblance to those, particularly Hardwicke's.

1 hour ago, Inspector Baynes said:

I've added nothing... can't get to a blank page... can't figure out how to eliminate the 'stuff' they have on the facing page.

But i'll tackle it again over the next couple days with a little more time.

That may do the trick.  I think it did take me a while at first.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Welcome, Inspector Baynes,

You should see other introductions. I wouldn't say yours is considered 'informal.' 😁

On 12/17/2022 at 10:05 AM, Inspector Baynes said:

Anyway, I'm all about language.

Ah, you will hate me then. But I am looking forward to seeing you around!

[petrogradgirl]

Hello all,

I am Sarah. Found this community via a google search. I like to write fanfiction of various genres. One of course, being Sherlock Holmes. Working on a few story ideas currently and hope to find help and inspiration here. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hello, Sarah, and welcome to Sherlock Forum!

You've got an interesting screen name.  How did you happen to choose it?

 

[Inspector Baynes]

Welcome Sarah.  Observed your joining shortly after you arrived of course.  Looking forward to all you care to share and bring. There are several writers aboard it appears, and some are also of an editorial bent.  I'm new too... and somewhat of a lively bent, looking for meaningful exchanges over the Canon, all things Sherlock, related FanFic, adaptations and other related inspirations.

Not adverse to Tolkien or other good, in depth fantasy, etc. 
I'm fond of 'world builders' perhaps - more so than one-offs.  

In any event, trusting we'll e-see much of you, your thoughts, endeavors and involvements.   

[petrogradgirl]

My screen name is a homage to the fact I was born in St. Petersburg and adopted from Moscow. Thanks for the warm welcome messages!! Petrograd was the original name of St. Petersburg.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Ah -- I didn't think you could be old enough to be literally from Petrograd!

 

[Emerald]

I am new here, hello to all! This is the first time I am "reaching out" to some kind of community within the Holmesian world. I am quite pleased to be here and hopefully I will find plenty of interesting topics and conversations. 

My interest came to life in the 90's when I was still a child and saw the magnificent Jeremy Brett as SH for the first time. This is why he will always be the one Sherlock for me as he introduced me to the character and WAS Sherlock Holmes to me for a long time. However, the new Sherlock series got my interest to flare up again, as it is a brilliant version, and it made me to go to the source of it all. Long story short, the more you look into it, the more you'll find. Escalation of curiosity requires new forums.   

[Caya]

Hello Emerald and welcome to the forum!  

[Inspector Baynes]

2 hours ago, Emerald said:

Escalation of curiosity requires new forums.

Both observant and accurate, Emerald. Thank you for your post.  Always good to be encouraged by the youthful among us.  
I confess I had quite forgotten about this Forum while doing a bit of an intense study on Gravity - what it really is and how it really works - nearly fruitlessly, I might add, since clearly, it's not yet well understood by any. 

Look forward to exchanging Sherlockian interests and asides with you.