[m_girl07]

I'm sorry if it sounds confusing but I didn't really know how to word it...

I'm thinking of publishing a novel in the near future and I have the plot outlined and even the characters. But there is one thing that I still haven't decided. As you know, a lot of people tend to stay away from novels that have hints of "culture" and it's already hard enough for an Asian writer. For the characters. should I use American names instead or should I stick with my original plan? The thing is, they immigrate to the US anyways so it's really just the prologue and their history but I don't want people to back away in fear because of it. Just wanted to know what you guys think.

P.S. Sorry is it's in the wrong section but I looked through all the topics and it didn't really go in 'fanfix'...

[xorgasmxmachinex]

You should stick with your original plan. There are many novels that the main character(s) don't have English-sounding names.

And as an Asian American, its really nice to read a book that I can relate to personally.

[little mixed girl]

what?
americans eat up "cultural" books!
people are not going to back away from a book because of the character names.
unless you are throwing out terms without explaining them (ie- "it was the middle of the showa era, and..."), then you should be fine.
changing names in a book has nothing to do with american culture either...

[dancingbymyself]

Try using both. Have them use their original names in the old country
and have them still use them in america, but also use american names.

[anthonymarie]

stick with your original plan, its better and probably more original,
the last thing you wanna do is write another same book like everything else out there..

[MythnoonA]

please don't conform to 'western' culture--write the way you want. It won't kill people to read it that way.


although I can understand why they do it, especially for people new to reading manga--it's kind of annoying sometimes when parts are changed from their original to make it easier. I don't mind it once in a while--but if someone is curious about a place or band/group/writer, they can look it up. They seem to be doing that less--leaving most of the original parts, and making footnotes for others, and explaining things...which is a better way to learn things.

Even the English version of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's epic Don Quijote de la Mancha is full of footnotes--some things written did not translate as well from Spanish, or there was no equal saying or phrase, but they always give the original as well as what they've substituted it for, along with an explanation of the original. You can always do something like that if you want to.

[kmalancer]

stick with the original. who cares if people don't like it. what matters is that you like it.

[m_girl07]

Thanks guys!
I know it's something small but I just feel that some people aren't as open as others but I know the ones that are avid readers will always appreciate a good book when they see one
It won't be another few years before I finish (or get started ) but I always like to hear a second opinion.

[Lie]

You'd actually probably have an easier time selling the book to a Publisher without making the changes. In all likelihood I can see them feeling that it'd be more appealing to the Asian-American/-British/-Canadian/-Australian market that way. Particularly if you're a young Asian-American/-British/-Canadian/-Australian writer yourself. Adds a sort of realism that publishers like to sell and multi-cultural literary critics love to buy into.

Sad to think of things that way, but it's a business like anything else unfortunately.

[m_girl07]

You'd actually probably have an easier time selling the book to a Publisher without making the changes. In all likelihood I can see them feeling that it'd be more appealing to the Asian-American/-British/-Canadian/-Australian market that way. Particularly if you're a young Asian-American/-British/-Canadian/-Australian writer yourself. Adds a sort of realism that publishers like to sell and multi-cultural literary critics love to buy into.

Sad to think of things that way, but it's a business like anything else unfortunately.

Wow I never thought of it that way...When I'm done, hopefully I'll be in my early twenties so I could get somewhat of an early start. Now that you mention it, a lot of books that sell do kind of have a cultural background to them. In a sense, it is sad but it gives them something new to read. Thanks!