alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Mascot)
alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2013-11-03 05:38 pm

Weighing confusion versus word choices....

...since Alfreda is only thirteen and still playing with word choices, but this copy editor obviously knows "period" (the non-magical kind). She (I am guessing She--most copy editors I have dealt with have been Shes) changed Allie's choice of "distracted" to "to distraction." More period--but not the choice of someone who has never heard the words used in that fashion.

The problem always is, does Allie's word choice just confuse people or make them think I didn't know, as opposed to the fact that Allie didn't know at the time of the tale?

Some things, like the copy editor changing a myth, or my putting more description in about the creepy-crawlies, are important. But other things, like Allie still saying A-Rab, since that is what Bear says about his horse, are not as important.

I think.

#copyediting #NaNoWriMo

[identity profile] sheilagh.livejournal.com 2013-11-04 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
I very clearly got the impression that Allie is precociously literate -- her feeling her way through word choices is dear, charming. Go with what feels right to Allie!

[identity profile] 6-penny.livejournal.com 2013-11-05 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
There is always the risk of being too period and coming off as pseudo-Heyer.
Allie not being in 'Regency' England would have a more frontier/rustic base to start from in her childhood conversation.