On inventing new words.......ED......

[DSWaltenburg]

Here's a question.

I'm really stretching my wings a bit, and trying on some new writing styles, but I don't know what will pass muster here at CC.

So....(in my current piece I'm using a bit of a fecetious tone, and want to use the phrase: "white-pickety dreams" (referring to the housing market). Would this pass inspection?

Pickety is a word....used in a nursery rhyme....

Hickety Pickety
Hickety pickety,
my black hen.
She lays eggs for gentlemen.
Sometimes nine.
And sometimes ten.
Hickety pickety,
my black hen

I'm going for a less sterile and stiff tone, and thought white-pickety dreams sounded kinda right. Can you let me know your thoughts. I think it will probably be the only instance of a "made-up" phrase within the article, so it's not like it'll be annoying...I just don't know. Need an opinion, please?

Rock on.

Deborah

[DSWaltenburg]

Does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone else here ever come up with their own phrasings, and either had them rejected or accepted?

Anyone?

[Celeste Stewart]

I'd just go for it. Your example makes sense and if you set your made up phrase in quotes, I imagine that it would feel right. Really, I think it has to do with the context of how it's used.

From what I can tell, Ed likes to see writers take risks from time to time - so what's the worse that can happen? Your article might be rejected and Ed might say, "That's not a real word. Try again." On the other hand, the article may be better off for the risk you took and have a unique flavor all its own. Try it and see.

[DSWaltenburg]

Thanks, Celeste. I just figured I'd throw it out here now, in case Ed saw it. Didn't want to waste time or chance a rejection for that, and that alone :)


I think I will, indeedy, just go for it. Now I just have to make the rest of the article work, as well!! :)

[Ed]

I think it's fine.

[DSWaltenburg]

Sweet! Thanks, Ed!