Inventing Vermit

From the earliest days writers have invented words. Two of the masters in this art were Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss. I should, of course, add Lewis Carroll. Those who live by the word, die by the word. It seems only fair that they should help create their own means of execution.

My writing partner Fantasia and I like to discuss words we’ve invented. I pepper them into my stories, and since publishers tend to eschew truly creative works, most of the heat is felt by me alone. It’s truly sad, because, in the most modest way possible, I like to think that some of those words add flavor as well as heat.

Some time ago I began keeping a list of invented words I’d used, or intended to use. Since my stories are about as likely to see publication as the Whig party is to win in 2016, it seems fitting to share a few of my favorites.

One class of made up word I use is the modified real word. An example of this occurs in my story “Initiating an Apocalypse” where the word “toiletal” occurs. I do hope to get this story published some day, as it is quite fun, but at least three publishers disagree with me on that point. Flunt.

The meaning of the majority of my invented words remains with me, however, and reading them in context, like a good philologist, will clarify their function. Younce, jorg, twost, ascleir, and tuckle are examples. Of course, some of them may have been invented before, but I’ve never read them.

Publishers fear what they can’t understand. Writers invent vermit. Who are the really creative ones here?

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K. Marvin Bruce

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