Three points to keep in mind when using technical descriptions and terminology in your stories to balance depth and fun
In the course of a story, you often have to use technical terms related to science, history, or specific professions. Using technical terms can help you delve deeper into a topic, and can increase realism by learning words that are actually used, but if there are a lot of technical terms and explanations, it can be difficult to read. Bestselling author Nicholas Harvey explains how to use technical terms effectively in a story.
Balancing Technical Jargon with Reader Engagement ‹ CrimeReads
Before becoming a writer, Harvey was in the world of motorsports as a car race driver. Drawing on that experience, he published ' Lighthouse Point ,' the 15th volume of his adventure novel series ' AJ Bailey Adventure ,' which is themed around car racing. For Harvey, it was a field that he was able to describe in detail based on his own experiences, but the portrayal of car racing in the book received mixed reviews, with some saying 'I enjoyed the feeling of being immersed in the action of car racing' and others saying 'I skipped over the car racing part because it was boring.'
The AJ Bailey Adventure series also features a female diving operator as the main character, and detailed descriptions of scuba diving are often inserted. The AJ Bailey Adventure series is popular among the diving community, so the detailed descriptions and precise expertise of the diving are appreciated, but most readers who are not interested in diving tend to skip over the detailed descriptions, says Harvey.
Learning from this experience, Harvey offers a three-point solution for incorporating technical and specialized details into a story.
-Check if technical details are necessary for the story or scene
Some readers enjoy learning the knowledge that appears in the story, but many readers are looking forward to the main story, and it becomes boring if information that is unrelated to the story continues, Harvey points out. For example, when describing a diving operator, mentioning common diving problems such as decompression sickness and nitrogen poisoning will increase the realism, but if those terms are not related to the story, it may be better to avoid explaining them in detail.
-Incorporate information into stories and conversations
A common problem with detailed explanations and commentary is that the description becomes too explanatory, like a manual or textbook, because the author must research the information carefully to avoid making any mistakes. Even if the explanation is necessary for the story, it is possible to avoid boring the reader by providing details in conversations or describing the actual experiences of the characters.
Psychotherapist and author Yael Goldstein also explains a similar technique as an important point when incorporating technical terms into a story. Introducing unnecessary terms or incorporating more technical discussion than necessary for the purpose of consolidating the plot can blur the main elements of the story. According to Goldstein, in order to 'elegantly incorporate science into a story,' it is important to be aware that 'science must always serve the story.'
What are the points to be aware of and 'elegant ways' to incorporate the latest technology and science into fiction? - GIGAZINE
Divide information
Information such as the setting of the story, the character and setting of the protagonist, and the purpose of the story are important elements for attracting readers. However, if you explain 'This is the setting, this character is like this, and what he is trying to do' all at once from the beginning of the story, the reader tends to be left behind. For this reason, Harvey uses techniques to break down information and make it easier to understand, such as explaining the protagonist little by little in the first few chapters, and not describing the specialized equipment used in diving, but only explaining what is needed at the time.
Inaccurate or ambiguous technical descriptions and explanations will anger knowledgeable readers. On the other hand, if you focus too much on explaining technical terms and describing details, readers who are not interested in that field will be bored. Harvey said, 'In my past works, I failed to strike a 'balance' to please everyone. In my new work, I was able to make accurate descriptions while softening the technical details, which became the most popular book in the series. Make sure that the technical details are important to the story and find a way to explain them as concisely as possible. Constantly fine-tuning this balance is the key to delivering the story without letting all readers go.'
Related Posts:
in Note, Posted by log1e_dh