Here's how it works with words

Sunday 5/12/24

Best not to have the word "diaspora"--something I see all the time--in the title of your book, which doesn't need to sound like pretentious twaddle. There's no rule that you must have things come off as unpalatable and unapproachable as possible from the first moment.

Here's how it works with words. Use the word that works best and does the most. Don't use a word because you want attention.

A person who does not know a word you used should be able to glean its meaning from the context of the work and where and how it's used in it. Otherwise, that word is not working.

Titles tend to have less available context. So if you just hang your word out there and no one will know what it means, you are being a douchebag. Don't write like a douchebag. Write for readers. Think of them.

The shit that I read from most writers is no different than if they made some terrible demo of their insecurity and were now blasting it at full volume in my face.

Such a person should be insecure because they suck at this thing they're trying to do. Why would that build confidence?

But instead of sucking and trying to hide the degree to which one truly does suck, maybe take a more honest approach and put forth some effort and try to get better? Knock off the bullshit.