Quandrum. If a quandry (perplexity in a difficult situation) and a conundrum (vexing question) had a baby, it would be…a quandrum.
Writers love words, but they’re less in love with words that are quandrums. “What does that mean?” “How is it pronounced?”
A long-standing joke at our house is how I pronounce Chequamegon National Forest. (FYI, I don’t have a problem with the words national or forest.) Actually, the laugh factor is no more. It took a while, and a lot of attempts at Chuh-kwa-MEE-gone, Check-wa-MEE-gon, CHECK-wam-eeg-on, CHUCK-a-me-gone. Now I can confidently rattle off SHWAH-meh-gun with the best of the locals. It sure looks like it should have four syllables, doesn’t it? But no. Shawano, Wisconsin was another challenge. Seems simple enough–Shah-WAH-no or perhaps SHAH-wah-no. It’s officially pronounced with two syllables instead. SHAH-no.
Details like this might matter when your book is being narrated by someone unfamiliar with the area or the subject matter. Perhaps the narrator is someone who, say, has only seen the word in writing, not heard it in conversation with locals. Savvy authors often create a pronunciation guide for narrators to refer to.
How do you pronounce query?
Query. Early in a writer’s journey toward publication, they’ll discover that curious (double meaning) word tossed about at writers’ conferences and in books on the craft of writing.
Unlike the commonly heard “KWARE-ee,” the actual pronunciation is “KWEE-ree.” In essence, a query is a question, but that doesn’t help us at all with pronouncing it! It is the author’s inquiry (usually by email) in which the author presents a brief description of the nonfiction’s premise or the storyline of the novel. A good query includes the author’s qualifications to write the book, a clear definition of its genre (see below), and target audience. All of the above in just a couple of paragraphs. A query is a question asking, “Would you like to see a proposal?”
Take note of these other definitions and/or pronunciations with which an aspiring writer is wise to become familiar. Also check out this link for an even deeper dive.
Words as Quandrums
Archetype (ARK-ih-type)–a perfect example or model. “She was the archetype of a strong but not heartless businesswoman.”
Denouement (DAY-noo-MAHn)–Like the cool-down period after a workout, the denouement is breathing again after the resolution or conclusion. It is in essence the moments of silence before the symphony conductor lowers his or her arms, the words that lead the reader to a satisfying sigh.
Deus Ex Machina (DAY-oos ex MAHK-ee-nah) Otherwise known as “what not to do with your story.” Deus ex machina means you have too neatly wrapped up all the plots and subplots in one fell, quick, swoop. Any writer who is at 98,000 words of a 100,000 word novel understands the temptation. It is considered a little too tidy to be believed. Or a lot. It’s manufacturing an answer artificially rather than the answer unfolding naturally. And that robs, frustrates, and cheats the reader out of a believable resolution.
Words that start with E
End Matter (also called back matter) If you hear editors talk about end matter, they’re referring to the material that follows the end of the text of the book (additional resources, bonus material, acknowledgments, author bio, sneak peek at next book, etc.)
Epilogue (EHP-eh-log) An epilogue is a comment, conclusion, or even a “Two Years Later” (if you said that with a Sponge Bob Square Pants narrator French accent, extra credit for you) scene that comes after the conclusion of the text but before the End Matter.
Epigraph (EHP-eh-graf) An epigraph is a short quotation or saying that appears at the beginning of a book, or the beginning of a chapter, is and is set off by itself. Its intention is to hint at the book’s or chapter’s theme or tone, its mystery or its wonder, or to otherwise set up the reader for the reading experience. It is sometimes used to connect the reader with the inspiration of the book’s title.
Even more quandrums
Genre (ZHAHN-ruh)–a category of literature characterized by style, form, or content. Technically, category is broader–fiction, nonfiction, poetry, academic, children’s… Genre is more specific–Romantic Suspense, Dystopian, Spiritual Growth, Historical Thriller, Leadership Development, Crime Drama, Memoir, Devotional. So nonfiction is the category and memoir is the genre. Fiction is the category and Romantic Comedy is the genre.
In Media Res (in MEE-dee-uh RESS) In the middle of the action. Books that begin in media res often appeal to readers because they are dropped immediately into the action or crisis or pinch point.
Stutter (STUH-ter) If an agent or editor has pointed out repeated use of a word or phrase close enough together–next sentence or next paragraph–they’re commenting on the stutter concept. Readers will remember the word or phrase and be drawn to the mechanics of the writing rather than carried along in the flow of the text. (I can see some of my clients rolling their eyes when I pick up on a stutter, but it’s real. It has a name.) If repetition is used intentionally, it will drive a point home. If unintentionally, it will or can distract a reader.
Trope (trohp with a long oh sound)– A trope used in our context is a plotline or character stereotype that is familiar to readers but risks becoming too familiar if not written creatively. Boy-meets-girl, villain redemption, must save family farm/ranch/restaurant, rags to riches, main character returns to hometown to heal from betrayal/care for elderly relative/inherit a piece of property they never wanted, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, the last shall be first… Some publishers are looking for very specific tropes–plots with small towns, rescued animals who become heroes, shy steps out in courage, etc. Recognizing tropes and writing them creatively and with depth brings both challenge and reward.
End notes for this blog post
We could spend many blog posts exploring the language of publishing, the meanings, and word pronunciations. This handful may have made you think of others you’ve wondered about.Which of the above words were new or surprising to you?
What words local to your area or your realm of expertise are often mispronounced or misunderstood? Please spell them phonetically in the comments for us. Life-long learning–a writer’s best friend.