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Kathleen_cross
First Time Poster
Username: Kathleen_cross
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:52 pm: | 
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There is an adult character in my upcoming novel who doesn't know what HTML is. She's a high school guidance counselor who is not a very deep thinker, and is not too good at her job.
She doesn't have a computer at home, and uses the school's computers on rare occasions.
As a reader, would you be distracted (in other words, would it strike you as unbelievable) if this character asked a student (who mentioned the term to her) what HTML was?
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Troy
Newbie Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 6
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 12:05 am: |
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While I'm sittinghere reconfiguring the discussion baords I'd though I answer your question:
I would not be surprised - depending on the context. There is no reason for someone who barely uses a computer to know what HMTL is. |
Kathleen_cross
First Time Poster
Username: Kathleen_cross
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 12:37 am: |
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Thanks, Troy.
A couple of years ago I worked as a consultant with the staff of an inner-city high school. In my presentation I made reference to students using "Google" for research, and more than half of the teachers in the room had no idea what I was talking about.
In my novel, I thought I was safe writing a scene in which a counselor didn't know what HTML was, but an editor questioned it.
My manuscript is in preproduction, so I'm at that phase where I'm responding to my copy editor's notes. For the most part, I am in AWE of copy editors. (A good one will find EVERY inconsistency the author overlooks)
A Copy editor can amaze you with something crazy like: "There's no way your protagonist could have been facing the ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier at 9pm on November 14th and seen the Big Dipper in the sky above her -- that time of year that constellation would have been behind her, slightly to the left"
 *eyebrow raised* |
Yukio
Newbie Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 07:27 pm: |
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thats sounds serious KC....I would be distracted, but isn't that your point, since she isn't that deep? Doesn't this demonstrate her limited knowledge base?
Good luck with the novel! |
Kathleen_cross
Newbie Poster
Username: Kathleen_cross
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 08:44 pm: |
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Exactly, Yukio.
That is the note I've written in the margin.
Thanks for responding, and for the good wishes. |
Yukio
Newbie Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 15
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 12:44 pm: |
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kathleeen:
Have u been published? Or is this your first book of fiction? |
Kathleen_cross
Newbie Poster
Username: Kathleen_cross
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 12:24 am: |
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Yukio,
"Schooling Carmen" is my second published novel. It's due out in September from HarperCollins/Avon.
My first novel, "Skin Deep" was published in 1999 (also by Avon Books).
At www.kathleencross.com there are descriptions and excerpts.
Thanks for asking
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Yukio
Newbie Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 16
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 01:39 am: |
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Ah ha....i do recall the title skin deep. |
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