From: Raymond E. Feist
Date: 03 April 2009
No, most of the typos start with me. I have a childhood learning disorder called a binocular dysfunction, which is similar to dyslexia. It gets worse as I get stressed, tired, or sick. Homonyms are the worst. I literally can't "see" those typos on the page unless I put away the manuscript and read it slowly a week later. Time doesn't often permit.
If my editor can catch them, she does. If she's rushed . . . additionally, what used to be done in house by a brilliant copy editor named Elaine Chubb at Doubleday, is now done by computers. They can be programmed to catch a lot of stuff, but there are "exceptions" which will tend to be place and character names.
Now that I'm working a year ahead, I should have the time to be more thorough and cut down on this stuff.
Best, R.E.F.
From: Raymond E. Feist
Date: 03 April 2009
Binocular dysfunction is simply a neurological issue where the eyes are sending data at slightly different rates to the brain. Looking back, it's why I could never catch a ball as a little kid; always hit me in the face or went over my head. Depth perception is a learned thing; you lose it after about eighteen feet and from then out out, it's the relative size of things you're brain learns to interpret. So i could see a ball coming but about fifteen feet away, my brain started processing things differently that most people and the ball would whack me in the face. The other kids though I just couldn't catch.
It also makes letters look funny at times, though my brain has learned after thirty years of touch typing to see 90% of the "funny" the right way; it's the 10% that still lingers that's drying people nuts.
Best, R.E.F.
FAQ answers attributed to Raymond E. Feist are copyright by Raymond E. Feist.
It should also be born in mind that the answer given was only applicable on the date written, and to a specific question. You may find further, similar questions, in the FAQ.