Guide to Britain for the confused

An Introduction to Britain

A resource for non-British slash writers

This page has been set up in response to Annie's suggestion for a resource to cover, in a suitably multi-media and non-exclusive way, things of use when writing about Britain to the non-British slash writer. If there's anything you don't understand click to email me. I'll try to answer your query, but won't necessarily do so quickly. It depends on how Real Life™ is treating me.

If you do email me, please be polite: your chances of getting a reply are significantly reduced if you are demanding or rude.

I have covered areas where I've noticed glaring mistakes in stories. If you think that I've missed something important, let me know. I'll try and get around to adding whatever it is, though I can't promise to do so quickly.

If you need detailed information you're best off doing some research yourself and then getting it checked, rather than coming to someone with a list of questions to be answered. Hopefully, this site will give you a start.

British beta readers

I do beta read stories for people, but ONLY in the following fandoms:

Rat Patrol; and
Lord of the Rings - but only certain pairings, please email for details.
Harry Potter - but only certain pairings in HP. RL/SB and SS/HP to be precise.

If you write in any other fandom and want a beta reader, my advice is to join a list like Britslash or the Fanfic Critics Association (go to the links page for joining instructions) and ask there for volunteers, or go to the Citizens Against Bad Slash page and check out their beta board. Do not ask me to make an exception just for you. I don't like to offend people (you may find that surprising after reading my Lexin on writing section) but I will refuse.

If you do want me to beta your story, and it is in one of the fandoms listed above, email me before sending the story. I may not have the time to help, and I wouldn't like to disappoint you.

Basic information (population, government, geography, the legal system)

Currency (money now and how it used to be)

Television and radio

Schooling (especially for Harry Potter writers)

Guide to the Ministry of Magic (for Harry Potter writers)

Newspapers

Titles* (especially for Eroica writers!)

Food: strange British tastes and some ways in which they differ from strange American tastes

Where people live (houses and suchlike)

Cultural things which are unexpectedly different. More cultural things.

Gender politics in Britain (gay issues and some other things of interest)

Things that really get on Brits nerves: pet peeves discovered in stories written by non British fans.

Do note that all sections tend to veer into other areas without warning!

If any of the links are down, or you have an addition to the site, or an idea, please let me know.

My thanks to: Miriam, Terri, Jacquie, Carol, Jo, Carla, Helen, Essy, Sandi, Kate, Kelly, Franziska, Fi, Barbara, Sebastian, Michelle, and Lynda for the information and suggestions for parts of the pages. My most abject apologies if I've missed anyone off.

Several sections of the page (marked *) are currently being worked on by other people.

I also have to admit that some sections of the page are lifted from my late father's book. I don't think he'd mind, and it is a piece of luck to have had a parent who wrote a simple outline of the British way of life for German students of English. The book is called: "Landeskunde, Great Britain and the USA" by H. Saunders and H. Bendl. It is currently out of print.