I’m the guy who sees mistakes, well, at least when
it’s not my work. Then the story in my
head overrides what my eyes are trying to tell it. My wife long ago came to expect the eventual
pause and zip backward through a movie scene, where I then point out the camera
crew in the car window. (The latest was
in Get Low with Robert Duval). I always
wonder: How did they NOT see that? Did they just ignore the mistake hoping no
one would notice? But, what if it
happens in a published book?
I’m not talking about a misplaced comma, or a
missing “to,” but a whole concept, presented as an occurrence that is just
wrong. Here is an example, from a well-respected
author, with multiple books out. (No, I’m
not naming names.) In a scene, the protagonist’s
car is on a dirt road and spins out. They
describe the details clearly. The tires “screech,”
the blue tinted smoke from them floats in the air, the protag smells the
burning rubber scent... None of which
happens on dirt, flying dust, yep, gravel and rocks pinging off the
undercarriage, ok, the rest...not a chance.
I am completely willing to suspend my disbelief and
have your half mermaid become an Olympic pole-vaulter then land a TV show about
seafood on the Cooking Channel, but “mundane” things ...ooof
This brings us to the question at hand: If you
are that author, do you want to know?
Chime in; I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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