To Gloss or Not to Gloss
I’ve been re-reading The Warrior’s Touch over the weekend. My husband teases, “Haven’t you figured out what’s going to happen next?” 
But I read my own books a little differently, with a more critical eye. Mainly I’m looking to discover what changes went into the final version of the manuscript. Sometimes there are surprises. For example, several months ago, I asked my editor if she thought I should include a glossary of Irish terms. They didn’t think they would use it, but I sent it along anyway. Lo and behold, they did put it in. The downside is, I added a few more Irish terms when I was working on the copyedits. Had I known they were going to include the glossary, I would have added the new terms. 
Oh well.
So I’m wondering if I should put up an amended glossary of Irish terms on the website, or whether folks will basically figure it out based on context. What do you think? Do you ever read the glossary of terms in books or do you ignore them?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:28 am | Viewed 2108 times
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
I tend to read them.
beth Says:
Does it have a pronounciation guide? Cause that’s what I need.
(Seriously, I spent the whole of Her Irish Warrior alternating between BEE-van and BEH-van and managed to drive myself just a little more nuts than usual…and I tried Googling, but had no luck. Very annoying.) So, um, yeah, I read them. I bookmark them and flip back and forth cause it’s important to me that I hear things right in my head.
heidi dahlquist Says:
I read the guides. I think it would be a good idea to include it in the books and on the website. Pronunciation guides are also useful for people who dont know gaelic.
Crystal* Says:
Michelle:
For the most part, I ignore them. Unless I stumble across something so out of my league…that I must look it up.
I read J.R. Ward’s Glossary because she has made up this entire world, and I don’t have a clue as to who is what unless I research.
Grins*
Jean Says:
I always check out glossaries or any notes at the back of novels. I never know when I might learn something new. And, I’ve never read one of my books after the galleys.
jeanne s. Says:
I definitely read them and I too go crazy when I’m not sure how to pronounce something - especially a main character.