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Let’s say you’re writing a story that’s set in your hometown. Your family has lived there for generations, and your tiny, myopic grandfather has told you at length about every tale the sleepy little town has to tell. You know the exact date it was first settled, who the key players were, and every juicy detail about its rich history of backyard wrestling. There isn't a soul alive more prepared to tell this story with more painstaking accuracy than you are.
So you don't need to fact-check ... right?
Last week, Writer's Connect issue 84 was here to tell you, no! Bad writer! *rolls up newspaper*
Nothing like a nice, warm cup of overconfidence in the morning!
This post brought to you by guest blogger Tyrone Couch.
The Golden Rule
To make this as simple as possible ... if you're going to claim that anything is objectively true—that is, more than just your opinion—you need to make sure.
You may not be writing a thesis, but that doesn't mean you can forsake due diligence. Even if there are fictional elements to your story and you make no promises as to its veracity, flying by the seat of your pants and winging it is just bad practice.
Aside from the obvious moral implications of presenting information that's not necessarily accurate, there are several ways that getting it wrong can land you in hot water. Maybe you end up slandering someone's great step-uncle, or misrepresenting an important historical event. The local birdwatcher might spy an inaccuracy, have nothing better to do, and review-bomb your book on every platform. In extreme cases, it could even get you sued.
But I know it so well! you cry. I've heard the story a thousand times!
Unfortunately, there's never any guarantee that your sources are correct, least of all Grandpa Devin. There's never any guarantee your memory is correct, either. Especially if you're trying to make a name for yourself, your reputation as a writer is extremely important. All it takes is one slip-up and one savvy reader to do irreparable damage to your credibility.
No matter how sure you think you are, it's never worth rolling the dice. A quick Google search is a small price to pay to avoid any potential fallout. Practise bringing an awareness to every time you make any sort of claim, big or small, and make it a habit to check.
Consider This™
When it comes to misinformation, your reputation and your wallet aren't the only things at stake.
The real problem starts when others take your word for it and repeat it as if it's fact. They might look to you as a source of information for their own writing, perpetuating the misunderstanding even further.
While it's true that readers have their own responsibility to evaluate and confirm your claims, especially before repeating them, they won't always think to. They might feel inclined to check if you make a particularly egregious statement, but if it's something innocuous like the date of an event or the etymology of a name, they won't have any reason to think it's anything less than the truth. And really, why should they have to? Your work should be well-researched enough that they don't have to look elsewhere, but if they do, they won't find any conflicting information.
If it's something you've chosen to write about and share with the world, then it must be important to you on some level. Do it justice by going the extra mile and looking before you leap.
Pobody's Nerfect
Given how fast and convenient the internet has made it to pull up information on just about anything, there's really no reason not to err on the side of caution and make sure that reality matches up with your memory. Of course, there's no guarantee that the sources you find that way are perfectly accurate either ... so it couldn't hurt to find a second or a third source before you commit!
If this has been helpful to you, rest assured, there's much more where that came from! If you've ever considered taking a comprehensive course on all things writing, our book coaching & writing programs might be exactly what you've been looking for.
If you're interested in a tip or two in your inbox every fortnight, make sure to subscribe to Writer's Connect (at the bottom of the page).
Word of the Day
assuage (v.) ə-swāj′
To assuage someone is to ease them of a burden, satisfy one of their needs, or appease them in some way.
No matter how many times he apologised, it did little to assuage his guilt.
Quotidian Quote
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ~ Socrates
Get Competitive!
A selection of current writing competitions YOU can enter!
Letter Review Prize for Short Stories
Format: Short story Theme: Open Word Count: max. 3,000 Entry Fee: $20 Prize: $600 Closes: 30/06/2023
Look over the fine print to make sure that your submission qualifies and you're happy with the terms of engagement.
The Australian Society of Authors has a highly informative post on their website called 'What to look for in a writing competition's T&Cs' . To locate the article, click on 'Home', then 'News'.
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