My novel TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE is about life and writing, and how each affects or directs the other. It features an amateur / wannabe writer as its main character, and even less able amateur / wannabe writers as its lesser main characters (with non-writers also present in large numbers, so don’t worry 😉 ).
However, because they are amateur writers, I actively chose to leave in & insert some typos and tense & punctuation errors, as they wouldn’t be perfect as writers or editors of their fiction, and I thought these errors played an important part in the story. Don’t get me wrong, there aren’t thousands, despite it being a 700 page book, but they are randomly scattered.
And yet, while I’m re-reading it in paperback form, I’m now left wondering if –until this idea becomes obvious that it’s intentional, and the proliferation of wannabe writers is understood– readers will simply think the book isn’t fully edited. And, as a paid editor, I really wouldn’t want that. 😮 🙂
So, my question to you is this: which of these options below do you think I should do, and why?
- (a) Leave everything as is – if the reader doesn’t “get it” or walks away early so be it
- (b) Leave everything as is, but add an ‘idiot guide’ type feature at the start to ‘warn’
- (c) Correct all typos for the MAIN character, but leave others to “highlight difference”
- (d) Correct all typos etc for the MAIN character as per (c), but ADD the ‘idiot guide’
- (e) Correct ALL typos as it will otherwise alienate readers as amateurish or pretentious
I think I want to stand true (for the moment, at least) with (a), but if enough voters suggest otherwise I will seriously consider editing.
Plus, the more I think about it, the more I think I (and a potential reader) might benefit from a line added one the dedication page, along the lines of: “There are some intentional typos in this novel. The reason for this will become clear as you read.” ?
Thank you for your time.
just 1 more 