Creative Writing Question
 

I am taking an on-line writing class. It’s pretty much just for fun- it’s not for academic credit, there are no grades, most of the assignments are optional. We mainly will be writing one story to turn in at the end. The story I am thinking of is about a college student who initially is not interested in sororities, but then ends up joining one.

Keeping audience in mind, not everyone reading this would be familiar with Greek life and the logistical procedures of joining a sorority . In fact, I would assume most people are not. I definitely would keep the story realistic- no circling the fat or naked pillow fights or anything like that, but I also would probably want to avoid jargon, such as quota, COB, total, that sort of thing. Which brings me to the next question:

So far, in my draft version, I am using words like rush and pledge, because those are still the words that are most familiar to people. If you were reading a piece of fiction that used the “old terminology,” would you think anything of it? In other words, would you think the author was out-of-the-loop and didn’t even know the correct words, or would you suspect they are using the words that more people know? I have not nailed down the time period where the story takes place. It’s possible it could take place in a time period before the change of terminology, which would make using those words even less of an issue, but as of now, there are no details that “date” the story, so a reader would assume it takes place in the current day.

I agree that using "rush" & "pledge" will be more user-friendly. I also like the idea of setting the story pre-change (2000ish?). There are too many sorority members who don't understand Quota, Total, SIP, etc to worry about getting them into the story. Unless something is key to the plot (such as a snap bid, if you're adding that into your drama), you should leave it out. While I do like reading books where you feel like afterwards you've almost learned a new skill, rush is not on the same level as scuba diving or aviation on the "things people want to learn" list.

as someone who until this year was clueless greek-wise, I would definitely go with the old terminology.

I'm on the other side of the aisle on this one. I think either you set it in a time when these terms were used or you use current terms. Fiction can be educational, you know! I do a lot of copy editing and I am a voracious reader. I absolutely hate it when people get their facts wrong, use the wrong locations, etc without giving a heads up that the author has used "poetic license." But then, I had a very old school education in Catholic schools when they still had nuns in all - or most - of the classrooms.

Are you writing about actual NPC sororities, some other kind of sorority or fictional ones? The "new terminology" you're talking about is largely limited to the NPC, so using it for groups outside the NPC, whether real or fictional (unless in your story's universe, the NPC has more than 26 sororities, including the those in the story) doesn't necessarily result in authenticity.

If your groups are fictional, then you can use whatever you want to. And I agree that the average reader will be more familiar with terms like "rush" and "pledge."

The confusion of the acronyms and the process itself can be part of the story. "Why do they keep throwing all these letters at me?" It will do 2 things - explain the process and show what real girls go through when they haven't been spoon fed this stuff from cradle to grave. Have fun with it!

For broad terms like "Rush" and "Pledge," depending on who's telling the story, you can have the main character actually say or learn that "Rush is now called recruitment", "rushees are called Potential New Members, or PNMs" and "pledges are called new members".

Coming to the realization that there are new terms might be part of your character's natural learning curve as she goes from total newbie with a lot of outdated ideas or myths, to someone investing herself in the process and perhaps finally reaching the other side of the fence. If done well (and sorry to say, a lot of this stuff isn't), I think that people on both sides - Greek and non-Greek - might enjoy your piece.

Good luck, I love that you're taking a creative writing class "just because"!!

Again, though, only if the sororities in the story are NPC sororities. I don't know of any group outside the NPC that calls pledges "new members."

Personally, I would avoid the new terminology, especially in the context of learning the "correct" or "current" terminology. I think it likely will make the story come across as pedantic and politically correct.

And I think that when the story is finished, chi-o_cat should give some thought to "publishing" it on GC. :D

Yes, the sororities in the story will be fictional, but based on an NPC model. So, you're right, I can use whatever terms I like.

Thank you for the caveat!

As for the character learning/explaining the change, it depends on a lot of variables, from POV to character development to plot lines. It can be done well and subtlety, but it all depends on, well, everything else!

I know at least one NIC fraternity that does, but no idea if that was an ihq thing or not.