Conference Bloopers
I tried hard to keep my foot on the ground, but gravity didn't cooperate and my size ten got stuck in my mouth a few times.
The worse faux pas was when I saw an author whose name I recognized and since she was standing right next to me, I told her how much I liked her book. And then I paused, horror filling me as I realized that I couldn't remember which book of hers I'd read. And then I tried to fill up that awkward silence by saying I knew I'd read a book of hers, but I couldn't remember which...uh, yeah. Not quite the right thing to say. That was my worst thing, I think, especially because I didn't know whether I'd maybe hurt her feelings. The last thing I'd want to do was make an author feel like her book wasn't memorable.
The second blooper was less serious. I'd just met some fellow bloggers and we were talking and I threw out the word heroine in our conversation. The blogger (wasn't it you, Katie?) looked at me funny and it dawned on me that my entire mental life has been spent saying heroine the wrong way.
HERE-ROYNE.
Not too smart, but now I know the name sounds like the drug. Weird.
Any words you've been mispronouncing lately? Has your mouth ever moved faster than your brain and then you accidentally hurt someone's feelings?
The worse faux pas was when I saw an author whose name I recognized and since she was standing right next to me, I told her how much I liked her book. And then I paused, horror filling me as I realized that I couldn't remember which book of hers I'd read. And then I tried to fill up that awkward silence by saying I knew I'd read a book of hers, but I couldn't remember which...uh, yeah. Not quite the right thing to say. That was my worst thing, I think, especially because I didn't know whether I'd maybe hurt her feelings. The last thing I'd want to do was make an author feel like her book wasn't memorable.
The second blooper was less serious. I'd just met some fellow bloggers and we were talking and I threw out the word heroine in our conversation. The blogger (wasn't it you, Katie?) looked at me funny and it dawned on me that my entire mental life has been spent saying heroine the wrong way.
HERE-ROYNE.
Not too smart, but now I know the name sounds like the drug. Weird.
Any words you've been mispronouncing lately? Has your mouth ever moved faster than your brain and then you accidentally hurt someone's feelings?
Comments
E-M-B-A-R-A-S-S-I-N-G!
I mispronounced plethora. One person had the courage to say to me, "Are you forreal?" I asked about what and he said that word you just said. I told him yeah, I repeated it and gave its meaning and he told me that he knew what it meant but that I was not saying it right!
I had been so confident with using that word, so confident that I thought I'd used a word that he didn't know! I tell ya, pride is something else!
Though that didn't hurt anyone's feelings, my transparency sometimes does that but I don't intend for it too.
smooches,
Larie
Larie, ouch! So how were you saying plethora? Now I'm wondering if I use it wrong too. LOL You're right, pride really trips us up sometimes.
For some reason it's always been hard for me to say acrostic.
~ Wendy
Thanks Janna. :-) Makes me feel better!
I hope you had a great time anyway!
Happy writing!
I'm still stuck with the old pronunciations of Carribean, Halley's Comet, Carnegie Hall, harrassment, and a few others. Funny how words sometimes change over the years?
I used to think epitome was pronounced epi-tome, raher than eh-pit-o-me. Sounds like you want someone to pity you!
If those were the worst mistakes you made, you're doing well, Jessie!
I always giggle at the world heroine, because it really does sound like we're relating our female leads to a drug. Hmm, some of the heroes in our stories might actually agree.
Tamika, I had a wonderful time. :-)
Angie, no, it IS pronounced like the drug. Isn't it? hmmm, lol. The author was multi pubbed and I think she probably has one bestseller, so hopefully she doesn't even remember me. LOL
Megan, I like that connection!!! Who doesn't want to be their man's drug of choice? LOL
Terri, don't feel dumb. We've all done this and that's why it's funny. :-)
I had a foot-in-mouth syndrome once when I asked a lady when her baby was due... because I knew she'd been pregnant. But not only had she given birth already, she also had the baby with her. In my defence, this would've been her third baby--they were very close in ages too--and she only had two children with her. I thought she was still just a few months along... and she was still wearing maternity clothes. Still, I felt awful.
Have a great weekend!
yeah it's like the drug ;)
Thanks for sharing and I'll bet that the author doesn't even remember this incident. If she does, you could always change your name and hairstyle for the next time you meet! LOL!
T. Anne! That's too funny. I can't believe she glared at you. Heh. I've heard authors have favorite stories. She coulda picked you a good one. :-)
Stephane, that word messed me up too! It is odd to read a word and have it in our heads, and then find out it's been wrong all along.
Thanks Diane. :-) You're too sweet.
Hi Sarah, yeah, I didn't see it coming. After that I made sure I knew what book I'd read before I said hi to a pubbed author, or mentioned their work. LOL
Don't worry. Your examples are nothing!
You're not alone. I hate it when I go to talk to someone and can't remember their name or whatnot. Very frazzling. :$
I mispronounce words all the time. I usually pick words up from a page rather than hearing them spoken, thus I pronounce them one way, and the rest of the world pronounces them another.
No worries. You're human, and that's the best thing to be. :D
Thanks Danyelle! *whew, wiping forehead* Human is great, though maybe some of your characters would disagree? LOL
I think we all make little bloopers from time to time. I don't think the ones you described are that bad at all! I'm sure the author understood that you were busy and maybe a little bit overwhelmed at ACFW. I think we all were at some point or another: agents, editors, and even authors. It was just so busy all the time!
Have a great weekend.
When I was (much) younger I had no brakes at all on my mouth, and didn't care all that much. Now I'm very careful about how my words might be received.
Looking forward to hearing the good stuff about the conference next!
Hi Deb,
Whoops! No, I actually hadn't read any of her books. I thought I had but couldn't remember a name and then freaked out thinking I must've because I thought I liked her... LOL It got very complicated, mentally. But I'm happy to report I just saw her book in the library and got it and am enjoying it. :-) So, thanks for reminding me to say good stuff about the conference. LOL I think I forgot to do that.
Nancy, no worries. Everyone's mistakes make me feel better about mine. *smirk* Too funny about facade. I've heard that said wrong before. French is very tricky.
Julie!!! Haahaa about hurted. :-)
Hi Gwen, you know, I didn't even think about her understanding. Thanks for that positive perspective. :-)
Great hook to this blog post!
I had trouble with the word, "Beatitudes." I'd pronounce it, "Beat - ta - tudes." I now think of it as two separate words: Be - attitudes. It keeps my brain and mouth coordinated.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Angeli, thanks for clarifying. Sheesh. Scares me a little about my own kids. I'm sure the generation gap did help. Heh.
And yes, it was me with the here-royne. I totally forgot about that. It is awkward referring to heroine...I LOVE my heroine! Makes us all sound like drug-addicts. :) Enjoy your weekend!
I've heard heroine pronounced both ways, so you're not the only one doing it!
As for my mouth being faster than my brain? ALWAYS. I come off SO much better on paper because my brain has time to work it all out.
It's so much worse when I'm nervous, so in those situations, I tend to clam up and people think I'm either shy or snooty. But that's not it at all. I just don't want to say anything to embarass myself. HEH.
Wow, Victoria! What a story. That must've felt horrible for you. I'm sorry you two aren't close anymore. I babble too, don't worry. :-)
Thanks Katie! Your usage of heroine, as in I love my heroine, made me laugh!
I've had one or two others that I can't mention here! I've felt my face burn before.
WB
Warren, that's horrible!!! LOL Kudos to you for sharing that. Heh.
Belle, that's really funny, because I mess up cliches too!! Thanks for stopping by. :-)