How to introduce a new term to your novel?

MasFaqih

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Hey I've been wondering,lately I've got a writer block,I just can't find the right way to introduce a new term like Hunters and Guild In 1st pov,I've seen how the manhua did those inn the middle of conversation between characters,but the setting is my character right now, doesn't know such term up until now,how do I explain these term in a way that people can accept?
 
D

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"You going to the Hunter's Guild?"

"Hunter's Guild?" I asked.

"Yeah," MasFaqih said, "you don't know about it?"

"No, is it something special?"

The cat raised his fluffy eyebrows and stared into my ignorant soul. "You come from the boonies or something?"

I nodded.

"Come on," MasFaqih said, grabbing my arm. "We gonna learn you today."
 

Hans.Trondheim

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Hey I've been wondering,lately I've got a writer block,I just can't find the right way to introduce a new term like Hunters and Guild In 1st pov,I've seen how the manhua did those inn the middle of conversation between characters,but the setting is my character right now, doesn't know such term up until now,how do I explain these term in a way that people can accept?
I just do it via conversations, with a small explanation from the character who knows the Earth equivalent.

Like the term "Demon weapons" / "crack horns" are just musket-type guns in my story.
 

SRB

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You know a thing about new places, when you look at something and can confidently say: "Yeah, I know what's this is."

Well, I don't. I have no idea what in the seven hells is "The Hunters Guild." Is this a group of hunters that like killing deers so much that they founded a Guild? A not-so-secret sect that hunts humans for fun? I don't know, but I intend to find out.
 

MasFaqih

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"You going to the Hunter's Guild?"

"Hunter's Guild?" I asked.

"Yeah," MasFaqih said, "you don't know about it?"

"No, is it something special?"

The cat raised his fluffy eyebrows and stared into my ignorant soul. "You come from the boonies or something?"

I nodded.

"Come on," MasFaqih said, grabbing my arm. "We gonna learn you today."
I need to describe the term,it's meaning,like hunter is a savior,peace keepers, individuals who kill monster for a living. You know like in those manhwa the mc suddenly talk about hunter,calamity,guild,etc
 
D

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I need to describe the term,it's meaning,like hunter is a savior,peace keepers, individuals who kill monster for a living. You know like in those manhwa the mc suddenly talk about hunter,calamity,guild,etc
You might not have to. Just show what it is through what they do. If you absolutely have to, keep it brief.
You might not have to. Just show what it is through what they do. If you absolutely have to, keep it brief.
As a reader, I commonly skip explanations of Hunter's/Adventurers Guild, and it never felt like I missed out on something. If I didn't know what it was before, the story will show me anyway. If you're having it in a natural conversation that's fine.
 
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RepresentingWrath

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"You going to the Hunter's Guild?"

"Hunter's Guild?" I asked.

"Yeah," MasFaqih said, "you don't know about it?"

"No, is it something special?"

The cat raised his fluffy eyebrows and stared into my ignorant soul. "You come from the boonies or something?"

I nodded.

"Come on," MasFaqih said, grabbing my arm. "We gonna learn you today."
 

CharlesEBrown

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I think a lot of the reason why so many characters have Systems, Familiars, Spirit-Guides, Soul Keepers, etc. is to get around this - the guide/system/etc. is native to the world and can feed as much, or as little, information to the MC as the story needs to not grind to a screeching halt while the author steps out and says "OK, in the year 134, the first Hunter's Guild was formed by three friends looking to purge their lands of marauding monsters. Since then, the concept has grown and multiplied and now every major settlement has a Hunter's Guild, with dedicated, so-called heroes, leading the charge against those forces that threaten civilization. And now back to our story"
 

Zinless

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Don't be Final Fantasy XIII
 

LesserSarcasm

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Don't know how stupid the mc is a book an advert a flyer a newspaper indirect
conversation, direct conversation media consumption devices if any off hand remarks or just have them bumble stupidly into one and info dump
 

laccoff_mawning

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I would suggest making a single paragraph describing what it does after using the term(s). You only need to mention the bare minimum immediately, and any lore/flavor/technical aspects you want to add can be done in later chapters when its convenient to- usually just before it actually becomes important.

individuals who kill monster for a living.
You're about one-sixth of the way done already!
 

strayCat0

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Just like how you introduce police or military terms. Really, no one give a single care on what's actually a commisioner's full responsibility, or petty officer, or inspector, or staff sergeant, or whatever. When you meet a brigadier, both of you really don't need to take a seat and talk about their job extensively. But one thing you have to do is to make sure their appearance and what they do in the story are compatible with their rank. The same thing happens with your whole Hunter's/Guild.

When a peace-keeper hunter matter in an episode, you need to show us what they actually do. Are they diplomat? Guardian of a city? Who knows. If a hunter came and said, "I've come to bargain," I don't think you really need to explain more, readers will understand that what they do is part of a hunter's responsibility.

You can still tell readers directly though. For example, maybe your MC only scratches the surface information of the Guild. They know the Guild can give you missions to hunt monsters, and that's all what matters. But you can introduce us a bit of the Guild's dynamics when he actually joins. What's forbidden, who you must report to, is the hierarchy rigid or loose. Anymore than those I don't believe it's necesarry (unless, of course, they matter to the chapter).
 

BearlyAlive

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Just don't explain it. Use the terms during talks, but don't info dump. Let the circumstances explain it for the reader.
"Hunter Guild"? A guild of hunters. Hunters? Those who hunt things. Guilds? Group of people doing the same trade
 
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