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OperaDivaAlix
Guest
A Spicule Of Ice? Yes or No for a book title?
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I admit I had to look up the word "spicule". 
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OperaDivaAlix
Guest
LOL
It has a nice ring to it, but I had to look up spicule, too:
a minute sharp-pointed object or structure that is typically present in large numbers, such as a fine particle of ice.
Maybe 'A Shard of Ice' would hit the brain cells without causing meltdown?
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OperaDivaAlix
Guest
Cheers Chris, I like your suggestion a lot
A book title should always be bait, the lure that entices a reader to pick the book up. After all, it's the first thing they'll read of yours.
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OperaDivaAlix
Guest
totally agree
Ditto.
It looks like everyone is about to say the same thing I am about to say. We have to look it up. You could use the word 'Shard' or 'Shards' to replace Spicule. Spicule sounds singular anyway when it's meaning is a group.
But this has brought to mind something I've noticed comes up a lot with my writing as well as something I've noticed while reading other people's writing. It's hard to know when to use a great, sparkling, beautiful, unique, and unusual word or when to use a word everyone understands. The guideline I try to use is that if the meaning of the word can be understood in context, then it's probably okay to use. Or, if the connotations of the word are exactly in keeping with what I mean to say, then I can probably keep it.
And sometimes, I just want to keep it.
But this has brought to mind something I've noticed comes up a lot with my writing as well as something I've noticed while reading other people's writing. It's hard to know when to use a great, sparkling, beautiful, unique, and unusual word or when to use a word everyone understands. The guideline I try to use is that if the meaning of the word can be understood in context, then it's probably okay to use. Or, if the connotations of the word are exactly in keeping with what I mean to say, then I can probably keep it.
And sometimes, I just want to keep it.
What they said... Even though I didn't have to look up spicule, it still didn't read right to me.
Even though I didn't have to look up spicule, it still didn't read right to me.- Status