Escape Artists
The Lounge at the End of the Universe => The Writing Forum => Topic started by: Listener on July 30, 2012, 11:06:11 AM
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So last night I was working on my book and I came across the perfect place to use the "I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going" meme in the text.
I really hope that, if I ever sell this book, the editor lets me leave it in there.
The previous chapter has a reference to lolcats.
I suppose there's a larger discussion here about just how much pop-culture and current-meme stuff should go into a novel, but I'm not really feeling up to setting it up. You can, if you like.
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So last night I was working on my book and I came across the perfect place to use the "I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going" meme in the text.
I really hope that, if I ever sell this book, the editor lets me leave it in there.
The previous chapter has a reference to lolcats.
I'd like to say "you're not selling this book" but in a world where Cory Doctorow is a prominent SF author I can't rule it out.
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"I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going" has the benefit of working as a funny phrase even if you aren't familiar with the meme. I would hope this makes a difference. I say leave it in!
I think jokes that have an in-joke pop-culture layer beneath have a certain extra value that bland pop-culture references do not.
Also, Cory Doctorow's books hardly seem like the biggest offender in terms of pop-culture references. Of course, I've loved every one of his books, so maybe I'm biased.
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For what it's worth, the book is done now and I've been submitting it around. The line stayed in. If an editor asks me to take it out and has a good reason, then I will. But it's a throwaway; I'm sure I can successfully argue for it.