Opps

I am an amateur historian, not a professional. I have oops moments. Am I embarrassed? Look carefully and you will see this is written in scarlet ink. 

To be fair, even the most devotedly thorough researchers have opps moments. One of my favorite authors, whom I have admired for more decades than I dare admit, is still suffering over putting the wrong colored squirrel in an early book. As a lesser writer, however, my posterior is more rightfully and most brightly imprinted with the marks of a shoe size oddly resembling my own. 

What amazes and delights me is the kindness of readers when someone catches an opps. Some time back, a reader sent an email saying that she found Wine of Violence interesting but had never known that Queen Eleanor (Henry II’s widow) and Queen Eleanor (Henry III’s widow) were both buried at Amesbury Priory in Wiltshire. I replied that they were not, only the latter. She responded that I had said they were in Author’s Notes. I checked and had a major opps experience. Reconstructing why I committed an error I knew at the time was wrong would be torturous. What I did do was apologize profusely, do a mea culpa in the next book, and send the very kind reader a  copy of it. I have had a couple of others but that was the most egregious. 

Occasionally, readers have called me on issues that qualified as an opinion difference, more than an error of fact. In each case, after I explained my rationale, the reader has either agreed or concurred that the subject could be viewed from more than one point of view. That qualifies as honorable debate, and that can be fun. 

Fortunately, most readers do respond with grace when you admit the error. Those are the ones to whom I owe an e-hug. When someone opts for over-the-top, vicious criticism, however, they are probably more interested in just bashing something, anything. Does that sort of thing hurt? Of course, but these are the people writers should quickly ignore. They may wish to start World War III over your error, but let them go kick a stone wall instead so they will have something more important to scream about. 

In any case, opps moments will happen to us all even when we diligently try to avoid such things. As long as you are serious about avoiding errors, forgive yourself and move on. It really is OK to be human.

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

Even your OOPSes are erudite and interesting, Priscilla!

Here's one of mine: My character in an early book calls Cinco de Mayo Mexican Independence Day. A prof at a Mexican U. sent me the nastiest letter -"just like a gringo," etc.

I apologized profusely, of course, but, secretly, I thought -- why all the fuss then? Californians give it at least as much attention as the 4th of July. I repeated the story far and wide, thinking it was a common mistake. It turned out everyone knew better but me.

[Priscilla]

Not quite, Camille! Add a newbie gringo to your list...and thanks for educating me.

[Susan Shea]

Oe way to know you have serious fans is to be called on something. I have a hunch I make a few mistakes, although my books aren't historicals so there's less opportunity, but I have yet to receive a "Pardon me, but..." communication. I kind of envy you.

[Priscilla]

Susan, there is something about readers of historical fiction. I tend to be pretty reasonable (...about some things...) but I did actually say rather loudly "but that isn't true!" in a movie once. Utterly outraged by the whatever it was. Now there is the problem of those who live someplace finding street etc errors, but ...

[Staci]

You're so right, Priscilla, that everyone has oops moments, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. It sounds like you've had some interesting discussions with your readers!

[Priscilla]

Opps moments are part of any series. Sometimes it is fun to see how a writer covers them in subsequent books or gets out of them.

[Ann]

Yes, we all have our moments, seared into our brains forever. Such as putting a safety on a pocket revolver. I even *knew* better... but for a brief moment, forgot, and there it remains, for all to see.

[Priscilla]

Thank you, Ann, for mentioning that little issue we all experience of "I knew better but for a brief moment..." That is what usually gets us. Perfectly stated!

[Michael A. Black]

I guess it's like they say, to oops is human, to forgive divine. ;-)

[Priscilla]

Very good!