Reading as a Writer

            As a reader, something that instantly removes me from a narrative is when the author mixes up characters' names or their physical descriptions.  For example, I just finished reading a fluff piece.  It was cute, but right at a critical moment in the plot, the female lead’s eyes were described as brown, when it was quite clearly stated in a St. Patrick’s related conversation at the beginning of the book that her eyes are green! I could forgive that inconsistency if not for the fact that only a few pages later she calls the guy by the wrong name! 

            Do some of these authors create stories and characters so similar that they can’t even tell which one they’re writing about?  My characters are very much my brainchildren, and I know that parents sometimes call their kids by the wrong name, my parents do it; I’ve done it with the kids I was a nanny for.  Still, calling someone by the wrong name is a lot different than sitting down and writing something for them and using the wrong name then.  To me, mixing up characters in writing is like if my parents sent me a birthday card addressed to one of my sisters, or worse: my brothers!  

            I’d like to think that this is the type of mistake that I’ll be able to avoid, as I am quite detailed orientated.  Still, I must acknowledge the fact that such errors are possible, even if I’m doing everything in my power to avoid such a blunder. 

            Also, on a related note: does no one proofread or edit books where this type of thing happens?  How does this type of error escape being fixed before the book is published?  While I can blame the ease of publishing eBooks for part of this issue, there are still traditionally published books where I’ve found this type of problem.  I even specifically remember those books and what the errors were. (I’m a bit more forgiving about the errors in eBooks because they’re a lower level of publication in my mind. Plus there are so many...)

            Maybe the issue is that I’m a perfectionist and since writing is something that I’m passionate about, I expect other writers to strive for the same level of quality in their work that I do.  I’m afraid to admit that may be an unrealistic expectation.