Does the word fit me? Would I even say this? I love this. This can be doubly icky when it’s clear this particular author is someone wouldn’t use that word. Some do have peculiarities in word choice, so sometimes it fits.
This is such good advice. It's hard especially when you're a writer whose first language is English but you're not considered a 'native' speaker — like me because I'm brown. I'm conscious of having to prove my grasp of the language and so I -- and many other Indian writers like Naipaul I feel-- fall into this trap and sound wooden, much to the detriment (another unnecessarily big word) of our stories.
capitulate - to me, it always sounds like an 'up' word like a catapult. It doesn't sound like it's true meaning of oppress or keep down. It always gives me an 'ick' feeling to hear it.
I let my daughter read a page or two. I had written "barrelling down a tunnel of light at eighty miles an hour." What does that mean, she asked. Driving fast at night I said. So why don't you just write that and stop showing off? she replied.
I had no answer to that.
Then again I would bracket PARENTHESIS and CONTEMPORANEOUS together as somewhat annoying.
Thinking about this subject again, and it’s true, as somebody said upthread; cavernous and spacious aren’t synonyms, ditto damp and moist in some contexts. A tissue, for instance, could be damp or moist, but a cake would be moist, or have a soggy bottom, whereas towels and carpets are damp rather than moist.
There’s not much logic attached to which words we like or dislike, I suppose, but I doubt a single ick word would be enough to put an agent off a submission that’s right for them in every other respect.
I have a few words that I deem rather pretentious when spoken, but none really when I read unless they jar with the style of the text.
When I write erotic fiction (which I do) I carefully avoid the word‘moist’ because it’s so widely ‘ick’ inducing… but in that arena it would be useful! 🤷🏼♀️
Cavernous and spacious are not synonyms. Please look up cavernous in the dictionary, then reconsider. This is not a question of taste. It’s a question of meaning. Sometimes cavernous would be the exact right word for description.
You’ve highlighted a habit I’ve developed. I know I do it. I think because I thought it made me sound smarter or a better writer; but really it takes the reader out of the story.
Yes. The words evoke different understanding. Both have their role. I was highlighting a tiny subjective, silly almost, point. That i have a little reaction when I feel the ‘wrong’ word has been chosen. Especially if it feels like a more routine word would serve better in the sentence.
It's NOT 'a Judgement from On High. It's one agent with an embedded ick - rooted i think in my mother's love of pretentious language.
Fair enough, but then it seems like the industry could do with some agents with more varied taste or, crucially, taste that doesn't seem driven by the latest fads and trends....
The myagentsecret idea is we here own the fact that we four agents here have widely varied and specific tastes. I see other agents elsewhere with different tastes.
Yes there are many agents who look for much the same kind of book. And yes many are influenced by trends. That's rarely me. Not because I'm a noble reader. I just think the trend chasing rarely works out and could turn my thrilling work of discovery into something more grim.
Thanks for taking the time to answer - I've no doubt that, to some degree, if one is good enough there is an agent out there who fits. I found though that many agents' 'what I'm looking for' sections are almost deliberately trying to put people off submitting (no, i'm not the next Elizabeth Strout) rather than consciously looking for a good idea or great ability (regardless of style or the type of person they are).
I've been trying to push a novel about the realities of 90s london, about music and the impact of the internet, which i thought would appeal to someone, but it inspired no one - it's hard not to be cynical when something seemingly commercial interests no one - it's hard not to start looking for reasons beyond taste, which usually lands in the realms of 'lazy/safe/predictable' agents. Just very frustrating, and the idea that it might have been something as individual as using a certain word or phrase.....
I don’t like characters ‘donning’ coats and ‘sporting’ moustaches… or guffawing, chortling, quipping, etc. Unless it’s children’s literature, in which case, pretty much anything goes. Let them learn as many words as can be crammed into their imaginations; they can work out for themselves what gives them the ick.
(I’ve never heard the word eschatology, but will look it up!)
Fucken love this note. How much I hate 'chortling'. Also 'chuckling' if I'm honest. I've sold a children's book series that was packed with chuckles. Had to suppress my ick as I read. I did gently mention it to the author but he looked mystified so I let it go. Word icks are so subjective.
https://substack.com/@dukelott/note/c-109597000?r=5h1xth&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Does the word fit me? Would I even say this? I love this. This can be doubly icky when it’s clear this particular author is someone wouldn’t use that word. Some do have peculiarities in word choice, so sometimes it fits.
Anyone fancy a writing course? Unadulterated peek into the writers room here...https://substack.com/@nickysargent
This is such good advice. It's hard especially when you're a writer whose first language is English but you're not considered a 'native' speaker — like me because I'm brown. I'm conscious of having to prove my grasp of the language and so I -- and many other Indian writers like Naipaul I feel-- fall into this trap and sound wooden, much to the detriment (another unnecessarily big word) of our stories.
capitulate - to me, it always sounds like an 'up' word like a catapult. It doesn't sound like it's true meaning of oppress or keep down. It always gives me an 'ick' feeling to hear it.
Thanks for illuminating the subjectivity issue.
I let my daughter read a page or two. I had written "barrelling down a tunnel of light at eighty miles an hour." What does that mean, she asked. Driving fast at night I said. So why don't you just write that and stop showing off? she replied.
I had no answer to that.
Then again I would bracket PARENTHESIS and CONTEMPORANEOUS together as somewhat annoying.
We have a post a few days back: "AI is only another tool; your taste is still your taste."😁 https://seeyooint.substack.com/p/two-b-and-w-photos-that-say-about
Thinking about this subject again, and it’s true, as somebody said upthread; cavernous and spacious aren’t synonyms, ditto damp and moist in some contexts. A tissue, for instance, could be damp or moist, but a cake would be moist, or have a soggy bottom, whereas towels and carpets are damp rather than moist.
There’s not much logic attached to which words we like or dislike, I suppose, but I doubt a single ick word would be enough to put an agent off a submission that’s right for them in every other respect.
I have a few words that I deem rather pretentious when spoken, but none really when I read unless they jar with the style of the text.
When I write erotic fiction (which I do) I carefully avoid the word‘moist’ because it’s so widely ‘ick’ inducing… but in that arena it would be useful! 🤷🏼♀️
Cavernous and spacious are not synonyms. Please look up cavernous in the dictionary, then reconsider. This is not a question of taste. It’s a question of meaning. Sometimes cavernous would be the exact right word for description.
Let me try and understand. Cavernous and spacious are....different words. I see.
‘cavernous’ conjures cave-like qualities for me, ‘spacious’ does not
You’ve highlighted a habit I’ve developed. I know I do it. I think because I thought it made me sound smarter or a better writer; but really it takes the reader out of the story.
It does exactly that when wrong - well spotted
Yes. The words evoke different understanding. Both have their role. I was highlighting a tiny subjective, silly almost, point. That i have a little reaction when I feel the ‘wrong’ word has been chosen. Especially if it feels like a more routine word would serve better in the sentence.
It's NOT 'a Judgement from On High. It's one agent with an embedded ick - rooted i think in my mother's love of pretentious language.
“Pretentious Language” - nice phrase
Fair enough, but then it seems like the industry could do with some agents with more varied taste or, crucially, taste that doesn't seem driven by the latest fads and trends....
The myagentsecret idea is we here own the fact that we four agents here have widely varied and specific tastes. I see other agents elsewhere with different tastes.
Yes there are many agents who look for much the same kind of book. And yes many are influenced by trends. That's rarely me. Not because I'm a noble reader. I just think the trend chasing rarely works out and could turn my thrilling work of discovery into something more grim.
Thanks for taking the time to answer - I've no doubt that, to some degree, if one is good enough there is an agent out there who fits. I found though that many agents' 'what I'm looking for' sections are almost deliberately trying to put people off submitting (no, i'm not the next Elizabeth Strout) rather than consciously looking for a good idea or great ability (regardless of style or the type of person they are).
I've been trying to push a novel about the realities of 90s london, about music and the impact of the internet, which i thought would appeal to someone, but it inspired no one - it's hard not to be cynical when something seemingly commercial interests no one - it's hard not to start looking for reasons beyond taste, which usually lands in the realms of 'lazy/safe/predictable' agents. Just very frustrating, and the idea that it might have been something as individual as using a certain word or phrase.....
If I was an agent, I’d immediately search the word “moist”. Straight in the bin.
What if it’s a romantic novel set in a bakery and the protagonist’s talking about her award winning fruitcake recipe? :)
Nope. Damp works fine. 😅
Had to Google that!
I don’t like characters ‘donning’ coats and ‘sporting’ moustaches… or guffawing, chortling, quipping, etc. Unless it’s children’s literature, in which case, pretty much anything goes. Let them learn as many words as can be crammed into their imaginations; they can work out for themselves what gives them the ick.
(I’ve never heard the word eschatology, but will look it up!)
Fucken love this note. How much I hate 'chortling'. Also 'chuckling' if I'm honest. I've sold a children's book series that was packed with chuckles. Had to suppress my ick as I read. I did gently mention it to the author but he looked mystified so I let it go. Word icks are so subjective.