In the Style of the Ancients

What makes for a better writing style for a TL?


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What are some thoughts about how to write a TL? I'm writing a Byzantine one, and am struggling if I should write it in a textbook style, or take the style of Skylitzes or Theophanos? Am I writing a story or a chronicle?
 
I can see the appeal of either style, maybe you can go with a bit of both. Some portions of the timeline could be a mock Skylitzes narrative of events with some chiming in from Psellos, and for other portions (particularly for those outside the scope of the Roman narrative such as events in Mesopotamia and Latin Europe) you can transition to a textbook narration, faux scholarly pieces, etc. It makes for a more diverse and compelling narrative in my opinion and gives the author broader range in developing the world.
 
What are some thoughts about how to write a TL? I'm writing a Byzantine one, and am struggling if I should write it in a textbook style, or take the style of Skylitzes or Theophanos? Am I writing a story or a chronicle?
Try both for a while, take a break of one or two days and then review the results.
 
I also would dispute that textbooks are simple in style; whatever they lack in metaphor they make up for in grammar if old enough, and if new and terrified of grammar, then in sheer jargon. There are styles to textbooks too.
 
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