Comments on: The Trouble with Tribbles http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/ Orbit Books Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:58:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The “I’ve been sick so here are some interesting links” Link List – Grasping for the Wind http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2483 The “I’ve been sick so here are some interesting links” Link List – Grasping for the Wind Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:36:58 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2483 [...] the Slushpile Mind Meld: The Pros and Cons of ebooks The Attack on Harlequin, not Self-Publishing The Trouble with Tribbles How to Write a Story Aspiring Writer Stockholm Syndrome On Writer’s Block My Sword and Soul [...] [...] the Slushpile Mind Meld: The Pros and Cons of ebooks The Attack on Harlequin, not Self-Publishing The Trouble with Tribbles How to Write a Story Aspiring Writer Stockholm Syndrome On Writer’s Block My Sword and Soul [...]

]]> By: Rachel Aaron http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2478 Rachel Aaron Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:26:17 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2478 I love it when writers just make references without explaining them because, if I don't get it, I either look it up or get on with my reading, but if I DO get the reference, I feel cooler than cool. It's like the author is talking straight to me, and it creates an instant connection that's one of the best feelings in fiction. I love it when writers just make references without explaining them because, if I don’t get it, I either look it up or get on with my reading, but if I DO get the reference, I feel cooler than cool. It’s like the author is talking straight to me, and it creates an instant connection that’s one of the best feelings in fiction.

]]> By: Susan at Stony River http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2466 Susan at Stony River Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:48:54 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2466 That's surprising all right, unless the potential story-killer was fifteen years old and had never before encountered science fiction. Sure, it could happen I guess. Meanwhile, I love a bit of vocabulary-stretching and occasional Latin. If I wanted to read at middle-grade level I'd be reading middle-grade books. Loved your post. That’s surprising all right, unless the potential story-killer was fifteen years old and had never before encountered science fiction.

Sure, it could happen I guess.

Meanwhile, I love a bit of vocabulary-stretching and occasional Latin. If I wanted to read at middle-grade level I’d be reading middle-grade books.

Loved your post.

]]> By: Gareth http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2465 Gareth Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:23:29 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2465 I dunno to be honest, part of the thing that has to be remembered is the readership. For example the people who are likely to read your book are going to be immersed in the Sci-Fi Culture, hence both references would have been picked up on quite easily. Nicole had a lot of similar sort of in jokes for those who know thier films and of a certain age. I suppose that perhaps in case of future novels a glossary to explain the jokes for those who don't get them could be added to avoid the editing of the text. I dunno to be honest, part of the thing that has to be remembered is the readership. For example the people who are likely to read your book are going to be immersed in the Sci-Fi Culture, hence both references would have been picked up on quite easily. Nicole had a lot of similar sort of in jokes for those who know thier films and of a certain age.

I suppose that perhaps in case of future novels a glossary to explain the jokes for those who don’t get them could be added to avoid the editing of the text.

]]> By: Nicole Peeler http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2457 Nicole Peeler Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:10:46 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2457 I have had a lot of readers tell me they liked having their vocabs stretched a bit in my book, and that they enjoyed learning a few new words. I'm assuming the rest just skipped over them. ;-) I think there are those with a love of language and a curiosity about vocabulary, and those that don't have one. On the one hand, we are authors, wordsmiths. On the other hand, we're genre writers, writing in a genre that many people read for plot/romance/action, etc. So I think there IS a balance to be struck . . . that said, my precocious childhood vocabulary was earned by reading "adult" fantasy novels that didn't assume their readers needed a syllable cap. And I would also like to say that I am glad I publish with a company that doesn't blink when I use the word, "peripatetic." That makes me happy. I have had a lot of readers tell me they liked having their vocabs stretched a bit in my book, and that they enjoyed learning a few new words. I’m assuming the rest just skipped over them. ;-)

I think there are those with a love of language and a curiosity about vocabulary, and those that don’t have one. On the one hand, we are authors, wordsmiths. On the other hand, we’re genre writers, writing in a genre that many people read for plot/romance/action, etc.

So I think there IS a balance to be struck . . . that said, my precocious childhood vocabulary was earned by reading “adult” fantasy novels that didn’t assume their readers needed a syllable cap. And I would also like to say that I am glad I publish with a company that doesn’t blink when I use the word, “peripatetic.” That makes me happy.

]]> By: TexasRed http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2454 TexasRed Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:07:50 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2454 I'm with you -- thought this was part of our cultural knowledge, especially in a SciFi genre writing. I’m with you — thought this was part of our cultural knowledge, especially in a SciFi genre writing.

]]> By: SusiSunshine http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2452 SusiSunshine Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:42:32 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2452 I have to agree with you! Okay I'm a trekkie and I so love to read something about it in a book. And really, who didn't get the vagina dentata! That's so funny! LOve this post! I have to agree with you! Okay I’m a trekkie and I so love to read something about it in a book. And really, who didn’t get the vagina dentata! That’s so funny!
LOve this post!

]]> By: Jaye Wells http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2451 Jaye Wells Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:34:38 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2451 I love that you're flabbergasted. It's not exactly a Monday morning water cooler term, you know? "So, Bob, how was your weekend?" "I can't believe the Steeler's lost. Those bums. But on the upside I met a hot chick with a wicked vagina dentata." See? I love that you’re flabbergasted. It’s not exactly a Monday morning water cooler term, you know?

“So, Bob, how was your weekend?”
“I can’t believe the Steeler’s lost. Those bums. But on the upside I met a hot chick with a wicked vagina dentata.”

See?

]]> By: Jaye Valentine http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2448 Jaye Valentine Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:28:13 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2448 "The point is, I don’t think writers should have to change carefully chosen words just in case someone might have to look it up." Amen to that. And I now have the tune from Disney's "Hakuna Matata" stuck in my head, so thanks for that. :-) “The point is, I don’t think writers should have to change carefully chosen words just in case someone might have to look it up.”

Amen to that.

And I now have the tune from Disney’s “Hakuna Matata” stuck in my head, so thanks for that. :-)

]]> By: Sewicked http://www.orbitbooks.net/2009/12/04/the-trouble-with-tribbles/comment-page-1/#comment-2446 Sewicked Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:20:04 +0000 http://www.orbitbooks.net/?p=5834#comment-2446 Wait! There are people who don't know what <i>vagina dentata</i> means? What rock have they been hiding under? Wait! There are people who don’t know what vagina dentata means? What rock have they been hiding under?

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