McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Alternate Realities vs. Ease of Reading
Tasmin21:
In my current beast of burden (read: work in progress), it is set in a fantasy world and focuses largely on one "royal" family. Now, my political system for this country isn't what you would call a traditional monarchy, so I came up with my own invented titles for the usual positions. (King = Sho, Queen = Shala, Prince = Sholon, Princess = Shalina)
Those who have been beta reading it for me have all come up against the same wall, that of the strange terminology. I never WANTED these things to be the traditional "king" or "princess" because of my differences in the political system, but now I wonder if maybe clinging to my own terms is just the height of stubbornness.
At what point should we give up and abandon our own ideas, for the readers' sake?
Cyclone Jack:
You seem to have picked logical and consistent substitutes, Tasmin. I really doubt it would bother me if I encountered it in a book.
CarolM:
I agree, as long as there was an explanation of the heirachy the actual names/titles wouldn't bother me, Just as I can equate Roi, Rex and Csar with King. You've invented a country why not a language too, Tasmin? ;D
3by2:
it may suck initially trying to remember what's what, but those things never bothered me after couple of chapters. so i dont really see a problem.
The Corvidian:
Put an Appendix in the back.
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