Support for Indie Authors discussion

I would appreciate input on the rules or guidelines around using words or phrases that are correct and commonplace to me but may not be commonplace to others. Some readers would prefer something more familiar, but others like what I chose. Here are some examples:-
• Smallholding (a small farm)
• Tender (as in a small speedboat ferrying people from ship to shore)
• Down on the deck (as in flying low in a helicopter)

I know the words are correct, I see them in other novels, and I personally enjoy finding new words in books. Of course, I want my readers to be entertained and not distracted.

I have not been able to find any online guidelines or rules about this – do you know of any or have advice?

If you have enough of them you can do a glossary at the start of the book. I did that.

Now this is a very good question, M.J. and a very good response from Belle.

I am familiar with your first two examples but not the last.

My last book was set in New Zealand mostly and they have different words for quite a few common words. Ranch sliders are those sliding glass doors, for instance. I tended to use the word once and then slip in an explanation or make it abundantly clear what it means - I hope!

I don’t see a problem. You have the pilot leave the bridge, descend to the tender and motor away, and the reader knows by context what a tender is.

Your character turns to a friend says, “Yes, Charlie’s a smallholder down by Ascot, and he raised mostly…” and the reader knows what a smallholding is by context.

You say, “The pilot dropped to little more than deck height above the waves to avoid detection, once, and the reader knows what it means when you use the expression later.

Context. To a reader it’s not just important, it’s everything.

If you have them in context...ie you have the book set in an area where these are common words/phrases, use them I can read a English book as easily as a US book because I can figure out what they mean by the context. I actually enjoy the books from other countries as I pick up vernacular that I wouldn't otherwise know.

Belle, Anna, Jay and B.A. - thank you for taking the time and sharing your thoughts. I'm glad I opened this subject already, and hope there is more to come from others. Have a great weekend, MJ

I agree that you should go ahead and use the terms. I enjoy coming across colloquialisms in the books I read. Almost always, I'm able to figure out from the text what they mean, but if not, I can always look them up. It's fun to hear/learn new words and terms.

I agree with the others, M.J. My first book takes place in 1400s and I included terminology that certainly isn't used today, but reading it in context, none of the readers have complained about it or questioned anything...."Bejaises! What's she doing?"