Join me at Bookstock 24. Meet and greet 60 local authors. Enjoy author talks and book signings, live music, choir performances, food trucks, face painting, and more. It promises to be a special time for the whole family, so we hope to see you all there!

Saturday, April 6, 2024 11a.m. – 3 p.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Memphis TN)
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3/24/2017

No Detail Too Small #MFRWAuthor

What I call  my greatest strength is attention to detail. This focus combined with a logical thought process stood me in good stead as a computer programmer and system analyst, as well as an author of history books.

You might ask what does teaching a computer to do what you want have to do with writing fantasy novels. A lot of detail goes into creating a novel. Backstory is the details of a character's life. Then the world needs to be described. Formatting to production standards may focus on a different set of information than backstory, but still requires attention to detail.

Another area of being an author that requires attention to detail is research --and I love to research. Digging in archives can keep me entertained for hours. Visits to museums have been family affairs. Even though I primarily write tales set in fantasy worlds of imagination or in worlds of yesteryear, research into this world helps make the ones I create real to the reader.

Attention to detail is my strength as it makes me a better author, editor, and proofreader.

Stop by the other authors to see what they are willing to claim as their greatest strength. The answers may surprise you.

~till next time, Helen

8 comments:

  1. The details are important and they can make or break a story. In writing fantasy I can see where that's really important when building a world from scratch more or less. Have to get it right so that everything is consistent throughout the novel.

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    1. While some genres don't need to create a world or need a lot of detail, you're right that consistency of what is presented is needed. I hate it when the characters eyes change color from one scene to the next without a reason such as magic or strong emotion.

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  2. If your creating fantasy worlds, attention to detail is crucial. You can't punt on details as you can with contemporary novels; Jane Austen is a great example of a writer who punted on them completely. In fantasy or science fiction (which I write), you have to create all the details to make your world real.

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    1. You're totally correct that details make the world real. THanks for stopping by.

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  3. Details matter in world building, in sticking to timelines, and just making sure the protagonist is wearing the same clothes from scene to scene.

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    1. Had to laugh at the 'same clothes'. I tend to vary the clothes to match the setting. I must like to party because i usually include one dance in each book. No travel clothes at the dances. Your point is made. If the setting doesn't change, the clothes shouldn't. THanks for visiting.

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  4. To add to Shari's comment....plus the fact eye color/hair color stays the same! In my 2nd Sci-Fi Rom book, I discovered that not only did one character's name get spelled three different ways, but hair color altered slightly:) Good thing my editor caught it!

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    1. keeping the spelling straight of names in fantasy is as hard as in science fiction. The more unusual a name, the harder to keep them consistent. And its worse in a series. :) Thanks for stopping by.

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