When books get messy
We’ve all read a book where the author loses it somewhere around page 300. Not the legendary ‘aliens in chapter 14′ thing. Nope. I’m talking about when the characters are going along, barreling toward the end of the book…and the author makes a flub.
Case in point – me. There’s a scene toward the end of Gentlemen Prefer Succubi in which Zane’s jacket is torn up and he loses it. In the next page? Wearing it again. I’ve gotten multiple emails on this goof, and it embarrasses me every time. See, for that goof to end up on the page, I had to miss it every time that I read the book for edits (and I read it at least 12x). Then it went to my agent, who read it. My editor, who read it (and read it again when I made edits). My editor’s assistant, who also reads to catch mistakes. The copyeditor. The production editor.
We all missed it. Shameful, isn’t it? This post isn’t to defend, of course. This is to explain how every single person on that list above — each who read the book multiple times — did not manage to catch a simple error, and readers do.
It’s because our heads are bursting at that point. Really. Here’s a representative picture of the beginning of the book, in my mind.
Copyright The Beatles, of course!
That’s right – look at that. So neat. So pretty. So ordered. Nice, distinctive clothes. Everyone walking apace. Streets not too crowded. Plot is forming a single line. This is good stuff. We can do this!
Now here’s what your plot feels like by the end of the book.
Copyright Martin Handford and Candlewick Press
Okay, there’s thirteen characters on stage in this next scene. You can do this! And don’t forget that Jackie is wearing a necklace. No wait! She can’t put her hand in her pocket, because you mentioned she was wearing cargo shorts 3 chapters back — or did she change? You can’t remember! Go back and re-read! Wait, how many cigarettes has Zane smoked in this scene? How many are left in his pack? Can he say that particular phrase without a lit cig hanging out of his lip? Jackie can’t move in to kiss him -cigarette burn! And for this scene, he needs to be in achurchexcept hecan’tbeinachurchbecausehe’savampireand ohshiti’vepaintedmyselfintoacorner anddon’tforgetaboutthebadguythat’swaitingtomakehismove assoonastheypullapart andwhataboutthequeen anddoesthisstreetinwyomingevenhavemeters so canshereallyparkthere ohgodi’mgoingtomessthisupand waitwhere’sRemystanding andwhataboutEthanandCaleb? Wouldn’tethanmoveintohelp sowhydoesn’thebutifhedoesitruinsmyplotand ohgodwherearemykleenexbecause ineedtohaveagoodcry.
You see what I mean? Instead of nice, neat and orderly, you feel like you’re playing ‘Where’s Waldo’ in your own head, trying to figure out how to move the plot ahead without losing track of everything that is going on. Ditto for the copyeditor and my editor, who are also trying to make sure that I don’t make myself sound like a grammatical cave(wo)man with a stupid sentence.
It’s not an excuse, of course. As writers, we owe the readers the best book possible. It’s just that sometimes minor things run away from everyone. 
PS — Nalini’s book is out this week. You’ve bought a copy, right? Right.
Yes, this happens. Knowing how complicated it can get, keeping track as one is writing a scene, I usually snicker and go on. It’s the obvious grammar mistakes that jar me. Seriously, ask any elementary student and they’ll tell you the past tense of ‘dive’ is ‘dove’. So why does it keep showing up in print as ‘dived’? Is there a bug in the pubishing software?
I have no idea! But now you are making me nervous about using the word dive (hee).
WHAT?? You mean you’re human and make mistakes? You’re not the super, duper, evil genius who plans to take the world by storm by writing about succubi and vampires?
Honestly, continuity errors make me laugh more than anything else. I don’t care for grammatical errors and run-on sentences because that interferes (IMHO) with the flow of the writing.
How about when movies head down the same path? I think that’s worse (for me at least). Because, HUNDREDS, if not thousands view the movie before it goes into post-production and then that’s just sad. Oh and hey, if anyone wants a good chuckle, watch the actors commentary on Love Actually. They point out errors in the film and it makes for a good watch.
Yes! I mostly do think they’re funny, but I do get embarrassed when someone catches me with my pants down. It makes me look incompetent and nobody likes that.
I’m not complaining about the emails – I actually love getting the emails! I just hate messing up.
I hate when we get all human and make crappy mistakes like that. I like the Waldo analogy because I’m sure it’s spot on. I can’t imagine what you authors have to keep straight in your head! I’ve finally received GPS and will be reading it next week. Of course I’ll notice the jacket thing but I promise not to email you and tell you about it.
Lol – you can email me about it! I won’t mind.
hahahahaha…. I love your post. we’re all just human baaaay-be, so don’t you worry.
and yes, bought archangel’s kiss.
Ha – thank you!
And yes, human and definitely flawed!
I just wanted you to know that 1) I didn’t notice the jacket and 2) I found Waldo.
Wow! Same!
LOL – I think the Waldo pictures are addictive. I know I put it up and immediately started looking for him myself.
Way to tell it like is, Jill. By this stage of the process, I reckon if someone were to take a scan of my brain it’d look like some monstrous thing that’d give small children nightmares — not to mention neurologists. No excuses, just maaaaajor overload, LOL!
Absolutely! There is nothing worse than the slog at the end of the book (and it’s called a slog for a reason, right?).
Well, I didn’t notice either and I still loved the book. But reading your description of writing the book is how I feel sometimes reading a book. I blame watching LOST for this trait – always going back and “looking” for clues and/or hints of messages, etc.
I jumped off the LOST train mid-2nd season. Too many flashbacks, too little of me caring.
My book has been in the hands of about a dozen beta readers over the last year. It wasn’t until last month that somebody said, “Hey, dumbass. Shouldn’t her claws hamper her grip on her gun?”
Or the scene where I’m giving a bit of backstory and in one paragraph I’m talking about how my MC’s father was killed in a war when she was a kid. Then, several paragraphs down, I say that her parents moved out of state once she had graduated high school.
I definitely agree with you about how tough it is keeping it all straight in your head. It’s especially hard when your MC suddenly sprouts razor-sharp claws. It means really thinking about every single interaction she has. Every handshake is a potential injury in the making. Dialing a phone is a hassle. Putting on clothes. GAH! *headdesk*
And just think of how dangerous it is to use the bathroom!
Ordered Archangel’s Kiss on Monday! Yay
Have to wait 3 weeks to get it
Oh man, that stinks! Good luck waitinG!
It’s not surprising that sometimes the odd continuity issue slips through the cracks. And, no one is perfect. The odd “flub” lets you know if readers are on their toes and paying attention. ^_~