As Writers, we all have a duty to take care of one another. The craft of writing well is difficult. Finding the time, space and opportunity to write is even harder. And then there is the business of getting published… It’s enough to drive anyone round the hat shop!
So this is my bit. Look out for the posts tagged as Write! In them I share the wisdom I have gained not because I consider myself to be an expert, but for the collective good. All writing advice I dispense here is dubious on account of the fact that I’ve made most of it up. This is how I perceive the process and what works for me, might not necessarily work for someone else. Also, my understanding of the whole business might be completely incorrect and squiffy. But, take from it what you will. And if I does help, please let me know!
Read Conspiracy of Alchemists and really enjoyed it. You’re a very good writer who writes a griping story. My great uncle was a dirigible officer on the LOS ANGELES. You do know that if the WATER LILY (chapter 4) was really only 40 feet long she would only be a little over 100 cubic feet and with helium only be able to lift 22 lbs. Maybe she has a 40 foot gondola, which would make her over 300 feet long, that would make her a decent sized Blimp (no rigid structure and therefore droops when leaking). But, if she were only 40 meters long she would have a lifting capacity of only about 200 lbs, still too little for cargo. Elle’s Colt 1878 Frontier, double action revolver, wasn’t made with a safety catch. Revolvers don’t need safety catches like semi automatic pistols do. None of these picky comments detracts at all from a very well written and enthralling novel, so feel free to quirk the corner of your mouth and shake your head.
Need to blushing revise lift for helium filled Blimps:
40 ft blimp would have a diameter of 9 ft. and a lift of 134 lbs.
128 ft blimp (40 meters) would have a diameter of 30 ft and a lift of 1,194 lbs
302 ft blimp would have a diameter of 69.5 ft. and a lift of 10,000 lbs.
I suggest the WATER LILY is a 300 ft blimp with a 40 ft gondola and two ducted thrusters.of 550 horse power and a top speed of 58 mph.
Thanks for your interesting comments.
As this is fantasy, a writer is allowed to take a few liberties and make few things up, which I have done to suit the plot. You are correct – the Water Lily has a 40 foot hull, and I worded it that way so people who know nothing about dirigibles could easily visualise it. Spark powered dirigibles are a bit faster than traditional ones. Also, the safety catch in the revolver was one of the professor’s modifications – he didn’t want his daughter accidentally shooting herself… all will be revealed in the next book…