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I believe that a great novel not only holds a reader’s attention, but is accurate in its facts. Accuracy, regardless of the genre, is very important in an author’s writings and is a key element to either making or breaking a story for the reader. I have put down books due to a surplus of inaccurate details within a novel, as it does not present a good reflection of the author nor their dedication to the craft. While fantasy books get a pass from me, on a variety of levels, these books I refer to are not based on completely fictional lands and creatures from outer space, but rather in a realistic essence of our world. Anyone can make a mistake or two…we are all human after all…however, I tend to lose faith in both the storyline, and the author, when a repetition of wrongly supplied information leads to an unbelievable scenario. There is one author, in particular, I will not read because of such errors, and I know that I am not the only
reader to do this.
While listening to book discussion groups, I have learned that readers tend to pick up on
more inaccuracies than one might think, and they get disgruntled with a book centered on a topic when they feel the author does not have a true understanding of the settings or their own characters’ occupations. Once they find a couple of mistakes, they tend to search out others; creating a domino effect that makes a minute discrepancy stand out like a sore thumb. Not only do they not want to read another book in that author’s series, they are not interested in any more books by that author…period! These discussion groups contain a great, and varied bunch of ladies and a few gentlemen, that don’t like obvious inaccuracies and are unafraid to voice their opinion when an author does not take them seriously.
One such genre that deals heavily in this matter is historical fiction. I have a certain respect for the authors that love history, and try their darnedest to be true to the time frames of their choosing. People will take note of perceived discrepancies and question the authors about their writings. When this occurs, I enjoy it when an author can politely inform the readers as to why an “issue” is not truly a discrepancy, and can draw a rebuttal response out of their thoroughly researched work. It’s a learning experience for all in attendance, and it can be fun if handled correctly. Unfortunately, I have witnessed when it does not go as well as hoped, because an author decided to write about an occupation that he or she did not research. A response of “my agent or publisher insisted that I write a book on the subject, and so I did,” does not come across very well to a knowledgeable public, nor does “I don’t really do research. I just write what I want.” Customers will be polite, but they won’t buy a book based on that
excuse.
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When I write, I draw from my past experiences across different professions. If I don't know something, or am a bit rusty with my knowledge, I do research, or since I write contemporary stories, I contact someone, in person, to ensure accuracy in any situation. Writing what one knows adds realism and will naturally instill a sense of depth to the plot, characters, and overall theme. Throughout my own novels, I add tips of what to do, as well as what not to do, so that the reader can do with my information as he or she or they see fit.
All of this comes into play when an author uses their surroundings to inspire a scene, a
character’s background, or anything else in-between. Just like what was printed on a t-shirt I saw an author wear the other day; “Be careful what you do or say around me, I may use it in a book.” Because, that is what I do! I take notes on anything within my grasp: a napkin, back of an envelope, a piece of paper, or vocally record a comment or two on my cell phone. Later, I sometimes have to think twice before using an occurrence in a storyline, because people might not believe that it could actually happen. But then again, “Life is stranger than fiction” is not just a quote to toss around on an unusual day. It happens to occur quite often, in fact!
Whenever I come across some information that is out of my normal wheelhouse, and I find it rather intriguing, I like to play around with it as a possible addition to one of my books. The same goes for if I find a new hobby that I think will catch the attention of others. I enjoy figuring out which of my characters might want to try it out as well, and we tend to take on a learning trip together into the new craft or activity. Here again, I can point out some pros and cons of the new hobby, and maybe help a reader decide if they would like to seriously check it out. Because there is nothing like injecting some real-life mishaps into a fictional story to generate a little laugh or two.
My whole point boils down to this one line: accuracy is crucial to a story. Mistakes can
always occur, whether by misinformation or an author typing one thing while thinking another, and readers are forgiving to a certain degree. Though we are all human, and absolute perfection is unattainable, we can still strive to be as accurate as possible and be proud of the work that we do as writers. It is important to remember that quality far outweighs quantity; a timeless saying that can easily be shuffled into a dusty corner when the pressure is on.
Thanks for reading, and best wishes on all of your writing endeavors!
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