Unauthordox

A zillion(ish) Sci Fi and Fantasy books use made up words with varying success.   I think we can all agree, though, that when you read something that you can’t understand it is frustrating - When using made up words you must be careful not to alienate the reader too much!   Here are a few tips to take into account when cooking up some new words…

If It looks and smells like a potato…

Then it’s probably a potato - there is no reason to unnecessarily start calling it a Grumblescrump.   However, if two cultures clash then you could have a section that goes something like;

“More grumblescrumps?” asked Xlavyixoxxax, holding up a plate of potatoes with six of his arms.
“Grumblescrumps?   Ah, back on Earth we call them ‘Potatoes’” I replied, smiling a little and reaching to take one.
He dropped the plate.   Potatoes flew.   “WHAT DID YOU SAY ‘BOUT MY MOMMA?!”

And instantly an intergalactic war happens.   But yes - my point is there are occasions when it might be useful, but don’t expect your reader to wade through a hundred ‘alien’ vegetables all looking, smelling, tasting and…er… sounding… like something they had for lunch without getting a little detatched from the story.

Super potatoes from outer space!

The best reason to make up a name for something is when something doesn’t exist in our language - when you are naming a completely alien concept.   Say our hero, during this war (After discovering the word “Potatoes” is the worst insult to an alien’s mother that you can physically say) encounters a grumblescrump whilst infiltrating the enemy base…

I ducked into the kitchen to escape the patrol guards, and lo and behold; a grumblescrump.   “Do you know how much trouble you’ve got me into?!”   I whispered harshly at it.
“Err… nope, I don’t believe we’ve met,” said the grumblescrump.   “My name is Blig.   How do you do?”

See, now the grumblescrump is definately not a potato; potatoes cannot speak, therefore the concept of a talking potato is deserving of the new name.

Overall it’s just a case of keeping things as accessible as possible, though when you do have new words that the reader begins to understand, it can help immerse them in the story; If you are clever with your use of fictional words they can make a story more interesting.   If you aren’t, your reader will wonder why a grumblescrump is not just called a potato.   And you don’t want that now, do you?