Why Write Documentation For SCA Projects?
Over my 26 years in the SCA I’ve heard many people lament writing documentation. They want to show off their authentic medieval re-creation.
They excitedly show me the well-done “what’s it” they made from start to finish. It’s a real medieval-style treasure!
They ask me, “What can I do to show it off, without writing documentation?”
I have a few tricks to share here. Ways that don’t require a detailed write-up.
Share your re-creation in a group discussion. In Calontir it’s called an “artisan show-and-tell”.
If you can’t find an artisans’ show and tell to enter, lead one yourself. Coach everyone in the circle to share their work before you do. Encourage comments on each item. You finish by sharing your creation and thank everyone for participating.
Show your work in a display with others at an event.
 |
| Artisan’s Display |
There are no judges or prizes. Some ask you to list basic information about your entry on a small card. Your name, the century and place of your item. You may want to tell what it is, if your creation is off beat. Easy labels.
Displays may be for a specific purpose. (Make sure it isn’t for items to be given away unless you want to give it as a gift.) Displays may show off largess donated to Their Majesties, or creations by a guild, or items to be sold at a later auction. They may be entries by people who didn’t make the things themselves but received them as gifts. A cool “rat-on-your-friends” showing work by people that don’t enter competitions.
Enter a populace choice competition.
 |
| Populace Choice Competition |
These are similar to displays, but with a winner. The event attendees pick the entry they prefer. At the closing, the entry with the most tokens wins.
Give your creation to Their Majesties in court.
Give your item, or similar ones, as 12th Night or birthday presents.
 |
| Handmade Pottery Merchant Display |
Sell multiple creations as an event merchant.
Enter a novice competition like Calontir’s Queen’s Prize Tourney.
Calontir Queen’s Prize entry descriptions only need:
- Description of entry including some of the following: country of origin, period of origin, characteristics of style for that period.
- Lists materials and skills used to complete the project.
- Lists methods and tools used to complete the project.
- Research and reference: cites at least one source and one visual or descriptive reference, or two of either.
Categories: Musings
An Itinerant Scribe 
1 Comment »