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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