Search where?

This Portfolio (stevengepp)

All of Writing.Com

◄ October ►
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31
Archive				RSS

Create New Item

Read & Review

Community

Browse By Type

Browse By Genre

Writing Resources

Monday, Dec. 23, 2024

9:34pm EST

Members: 820

Guests: 2,860

Total Online: 3,680

Writing Blog Number 2

by Santeven Quokklaus

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2311764

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.

An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 21, 2024 at 12:34am
In response to "20241221 Kudzu Plotting"

IMO Anne McCaffrey does this well with the parallel Dragonriders of Pern and Harper Hall trilogies. Adults-with-dragons; youth with fire-dragons. Memorable world building. Wonderful characters.

Kudzu the plant... only a curse for those who don't know its uses: forage, food, fiber.

Santeven Quokklaus

Dec 19, 2024 at 7:09pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

🐕GeminiGem🎁 - I chose Grease because it is so egregious and goes against everything Sandy had demonstrated up to that point. Dirty Dancing was set a few years later (early 60s), and, though Baby changes, it is gradual and is more a change of growing up, being true to herself. So, I think the time period can be used effectively without being so demeaning. As I see it.

🐕GeminiGem🎁

Dec 19, 2024 at 6:58pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

I agree that when a woman changes herself to attract a man shows misogyny and is annoying...but...using the movie Grease as an example it an interesting choice. Yes, the lead female changes her appearance to appeal to the male. I think it was more because of peer pressure, but the peer pressure happened because of the pervasive misogyny of the peers. Interestingly, the male character does the exact same thing for the same reasons.

The movie is set in the 1950's, a time where the misogyny we see now is even waaaay worse. So, here is a thought. If you are writing about a time period like that and are showing social interactions of the characters, something like the pervasive misogyny is going to be true to the time and place the story takes place. Does that excuse it? No, of course not, but having present-day sensibilities in an era like that would make the story seem really off.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 19, 2024 at 3:57am
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

In my travels I try to connect with most everyone. I wonder what my stats would be... but many contacts have names whether human or not, whether the boss or 'servant' or guest.

In my writings...

thinking.

I do have characters without names.

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 18, 2024 at 3:54pm
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

As someone who is an Aunt to two children who have an age difference of four years, I can definitely tell you that they act completely different. Even though one of them is neurodivergent, the older one definitely acts more mature than the younger one.(also the older one has never tried to lick my feet.)

With very few exceptions, I've never had to tell an adult "stop eating my dress," "please don't lick me" or "stop pulling my hair," to anyone over the age of six. Yet within the last year or so I've had to tell my five year old niece these things repeatedly. She thinks this is hilarious.

Anyways, thanks for pointing out that kids aren't just miniature adults! I'll try to keep that in mind while writing.

Santeven Quokklaus

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:44am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

Elisa: Snowman Stik - Writing about those who are neurodivergent is not something I feel I can talk about comfortably. I am trained as a teacher of those on the spectrum, and so I would not write a character in that regard because I do not feel it is my story to tell. But, yes, that last point may not apply to a child with developmental issues.

1 Like

Elisa: Snowman Stik

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:28am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

I am curious if there is wiggle room for the last point for child characters with developmental disabilities. (I do recognize this kind of character presents its own set of development pitfalls in terms of depicting the disability without stereotyping. That said, I think this can be a reasonable exception to the rule when done with care.)

1 Like

Once in Ryan David's City

Dec 16, 2024 at 1:26am
In response to "20241216 Poor Characterisation"

There was once a variation of "compressed vice" in an original episode of Star Trek ("Who Mourns for Adonais?"), where a landing party of the usual suspects + one random never-seen-before-or-since female crew member are captured by the god Apollo and they turn the usually gruff Scotty into a simpering, love-struck puppy to try to introduce some conflict when Apollo puts the moves on her. Why they didn't just have Kirk horndogging it as usual I do not know - at least then everybody would have remained consistently in character. It looks like Scotty, it sounds like Scotty, but WTF?

1 Like

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 14, 2024 at 3:41pm
In response to "20241214 Punk Genres"

This is interesting yet confusing. So basically it's like world building but with the word "punk" in there to make it sound cooler.
Maybe I misunderstand.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 7, 2024 at 2:55am
In response to "20241207 Problems With Using Reality"

That or "to-ell-wit-it" and suffer the consequences.

Every society draws the lines differently. A traveler needs to be aware. Even words matter. The British and Thais are strict when it comes to slander.

October 22, 2024 at 7:15pm

#1078754

20241023 Technical Jargon (In Stories)

Technical Jargon (In Stories)

My last post was about using technology in a story. This is NOT that. This is using technical jargon in a story.

What is technical jargon?
Technical jargon is the use of words or phrases that are almost unique to an occupation, or have a different meaning inside an occupation to the rest of the world.
Those in the occupation just accept it; those outside are confused by it. And that is the nature of technical jargon.
For example, to an Australian police officer, a hi-cide is when a motorcyclist dies on the road because of excessive speed. No-one else would know that word.
On the other hand, a word like duck means a water-bird that quacks… whereas to a cricketer it means getting a score of “zero” when batting.
Technical jargon can also be a shorthand way of saying something long, using acronyms, abbreviations, etc. A doctor will say c.c.s instead of “cubic centimetres” because it’s quicker.

Why use technical jargon?
Technical jargon evolves over time inside occupations, or it can come from the same etymological base and just went on a different path.
Using technical jargon can give a story a sense of realty. It makes the people seem more real. And that is the main reason to use it – it adds reality and can help the immersion and suspencion of disbelief.

Problems with technical jargon
There are two main problems.
The first is that people will not understand it. And that is a huge issue in highly technical professions, like engineering, medicine, law, etc.
As a writer, you cannot have a lawyer say, “This is a case of corpus delicti which, as you know, means. ‘the body of the case, that there is a case to be answered.’” That’s stupid. But the layperson is going to be slightly confused by this sort of language.
The second is that the writer, being a writer, could use the terms wrong, or slightly wrong, just wrong enough for an expert (or an amateur aficionado) to be concerned. And if someone decides to look it up and sees the mistake, then they could well then doubt everything else about the story and what is being portrayed.

Avoiding problems in technical jargon
There are a few ways to avoid it.
First, don’t use it. Full stop. I have read a lot of books with hospital scenes where the medical professionals don’t speak on camera (you get what I mean) and so their technical jargon is avided.
Second is something that Michael Crichton wanted to do, but was vetoed by the publisher – include a glossary. A few stories do this, but not enough. I don’t see an issue; it is often used fr foreign languages (especially made yup ones) in books, so for technical jargon, why not? At the back, just a quick one.
Third is to ignore the confusion, and let the context let the reader know what is going on, which is what John Grisham does. Lots of legalese, and yet he is so good at weaving it in and out of the story, it does not distract from the story at its core.
Fourth, and this is to make sure you don’t use the jargon wrong, is to only use jargon you yourself use. For me, this would mean music, performing, teaching, palaeontology, sport, fitness, etymology, historical research and physical rehabilitation (yes, I’ve had a weird life). It also means I would have to avoid medicine, law, etc.
Following on from that, fifth is to ask people who are in the field. Get them to read it and listen to them when they say something is wrong. Change it!
Lots to consider, that’s for sure!

Conclusion
Should you use technical jargon? In my opinion – YES!
It really does help in world-building and is a nice addition, and can even be an Easter Egg for those “in the know.” I would say only avoid it if you really have to, but otherwise, just make sure it is used correctly.
.

1 Like • Comment

© Copyright 2024 Santeven Quokklaus (UN: stevengepp at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Santeven Quokklaus has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/blog/stevengepp/day/10-22-2024