Got Ack-uracy? (see if you're more Lewis or Tolkien)

Some authors (and reader) get really tied up in accuracy. Historically, geographically, racially, spatially, academically, scientifically, etc. etc. etc. and so forth. Readers can get down each other's throats, turning friendly debates into the Battle of the Booky Brains.

Me, I don't need to do the math and know something's possible in order to love the story.

Because you and math.

*Disregarding Johnny* the best books are the ones that (as the remarkable Harper Lee once put it) "make you think," rather than "think for you." So, writers that put enough meat and thought into their worlds earn kudos. The question is, how important is accuracy to you and your story?

We should always do the math. You know, step back and examine our manuscripts seriously, asking ourselves: does this make sense?? Then also: is this writing still w

For instance, there's a character I happen to be acquainted with who has this huge imagination. She uses what she's been reading and integrates the information into her traipses from imagination station to station to station. So, although she's quite smart, she may have an imaginary adventure with King Arthur's mother without knowing anything about the "actual" Igraine. That's okay.

Books are supposed to spark imagination and make us think. They don't shun us for making stuff up about the Ozone layer. In fact, they love this.

Jules Verne would probably disagree. And J. R. R. Tolkien. But then I would have C. S. Lewis to back me up, and as he's Tolkein's cully, we'd be okay.

So, what we take away from this: write a world that's believable. Accuracy is good, but it's the story and writing itself that matters most.

And don't jump down your friend's throat over time traveling disagreements. Let's face it: some of us are tessering and some of us prefer jumping centuries via H. G. Wells. What really matters is that we are traveling together, and books are being read.

Later, dudes!

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"And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed."

-Mark 6:56