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| me, but re-organized desk |
There’s a reason I use the same picture for each posting theme…recognizability. In order for this to work, I need to be consistent in its usage.
How does this work with your manuscript?
Let’s take my name: Chris. My nephew is Kris. I have met someone who spelled her name Chrys. You’ll lead your reader into confusion if you start changing up the character’s name by not keeping to the same spelling. Simple? Okay, this example is quite simple and one which should jump out at any author and editor.
What if you have the two characters with the same spelling, but are now referring to them as Big Kris and Little Kris…or was that big Kris and little Kris? Yes, your cap use will stick out to a reader and read as a typo. Not a big deal? Everything is a big deal if it repeats or switches back and forth too many times taking your reader out of the story.
Consistency plays throughout your manuscript. Think of these small details:
1…US and British/Canadian spelling: grey or gray; neighbour or neighbor
2…Female MC starts brown eyes ends up blue eyed. Brunette to blonde without reason
3…Knew something on page twenty-two, but no longer does by page eighty-two…why?
4…Allergic to cats now dogs, no birds, cuddles with kittens
What about format? Does it matter if your chapters are Chapter One or CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE to Chapter 32. What about your scene change markers: *** or * * * * or *?
Of course all these matter. These are patterns readers’ eyes will become accustomed to and if there’s a switch up it will jump out. Next question…but really what does this little thing matter. Your readers will start to feel you didn’t proof your work…didn’t take all due care to make it the best it could be worthy of their money.
NOW, this is in no way the same as being human and having a misplaced comma or a typo. The DIFFERENCE is one repeats and changes throughout a manuscript. The other has no pattern. Goofs happen.
How can one stay consistent? Have a note document listing the most commonly used words within your manuscript and refer back to it. List nicknames, descriptions, format style (and favourite publishing house styles if you have that manuscript aimed for a certain house), anything you know will be used and repeated.
Now…get writing!