[Antir_scribes] New questions from Bronwen

[Ed and Terri Morrison]

What fun it is to read all the answers :-)

> 1) Have you ever motivated someone to become a new scribe? a new illuminator?  a new calligrapher?
Yes - 
 
> 2) If your answer to #1 was yes, what did you do or say to get that person interested?
I watch people write - all the time (inside the SCA and out) because its fun - when someone has a beautiful hand already - I engage them in discussion by commenting on their beautiful hand and asking about their experience with calligraphy - we talk :-) - sometimes they bite sometimes not.  I give away felt tip calligraphy pens - because first timers are comfortable with them and can try their hand - then if they become more interested the next step is theirs to take.  I 've made a generic Lion's Cub Charter.  It is printed on regular copy paper and also on finer paper.  I let people color the ones on copy paper with markers - to let them see that it can be just like coloring.  We talk about their color choices when they have finished.  Then, if they do not know how to use the paint and brushes - I let them do another on copy paper if they want.  Then again if they want, I let them go on to paint on the fine paper.  (I also use this technique when teaching young people to do scribal work).  I smile, I encourage, I work alongside them.
 
> 3) Do you have any other ideas about how to get people who have never done it - involved in scribal activities?
I'm thinking that maybe the Kingdom should have some practice type thing to give to scribes all over the realm to share with the uninitiated.  The Current Reign has generic thank-yous that the Royal Scribe was offering at Crown.  Smaller paper, easier to finish - could also be printed on copy paper for the ones who want to "try it by coloring" before they commit to painting a real one.  Doing it for a reason I think entices some people more - than just doing it to try.
 
> 4) What keeps people who do scribal stuff interested in continuing to do scribal stuff?
FUN - (however you describe FUN for yourself)
 
> 5) Do you think that uninitiated people think that scribal work is a mystery?
I think they do - and I think that some of it is still a mystery to some practicing scribes.
I remember teaching my daughter when she was nine, the geometric principals of how to line a page with evenly spaced lines so that her text would be perfectly sized on this greeting card she was making.  She swears up and down that she is not an artist - but has continued to practice the "letter" arts ever since that day.  I also taught her fifth grade class a short short lesson on calligraphy and gave them all calligraphy markers.  I showed them how to hold the pen to get the thick and thin lines and told them to "Draw the shape of the letter - and take their time".  My daughter draws her letters.  

I've seen some scribal work that I know could be improved upon if the "mystery of lining the page" was reveiled to the scribe.
 
> 6) If your answer to question 5 was yes - what do you think are some ways to dispell the mystery.
TEACH - SHARE - EXPLAIN - SMILE - ENCOURAGE - HAVE FUN and let others see you having fun

 
> 7) do you have any good ideas on how to motivate experienced people to do scribal work?
some - but looking for more!!!!!

I agree with setting challenges
I agree with offering prizes
I agree that it is expensive - but do not know how to make it cheaper (any ideas out there?) - and do not know how to encourage scroll requesters to compensate their scribe.

Reading through some of the old files, I found where it looks like AnTir used to pay their scribes $2.00 for each original scroll.   hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
 
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I loved your answers - and I gave some in return
hoping for more - from those who have not answered yet  :-)  !!!

Oh - and I agree wholeheartedly with Alainne - we are not machines.
It's really had to have any fun when people are mad at you
because you don't want to work on the job they want you to work on.

But let's all remember, it is also not very fun for the people responsible for getting the work out
when they can't find anyone who wants to help and are stuck with the entire workload themselves

Tolerance is a virtue - walking in someone elses shoes (even an imaginary walk) is the very best way to learn tolerance.
:-)


Bronwen