This is less of a flower specific question and more of a writing question but what do you think of authors who mention direct references to which flower language was used? I’m working on a fanfic that has uses the hananokotoba flower meanings. The original work is an anime & Japanese mobile game so I’m hoping the Hananokotoba meaning is sort of implied. But outside of your blog and the Hananokotoba website, I’m not sure if they will encounter the meaning I intended or if they may encounter the Victorian meaning instead which has a much different meaning (even the Hananokotoba website has a single English page thats lists all its flowers with the Victorian meaning by default though it doesnt say its that meaning. And you have to either read Japanese or use google translate the flower’s detail page to see its different Victorian and Hananokotoba meanings). I’m thinking maybe I should mention the flower language or even the exact meaning I used, or would be considered faux pas for spelling it out to the reader? Sorry if this different from the usual asks but I would like to know you or your followers’ thoughts. Thank you.
There is no real right or wrong in answer to this question. Instead, it’s more of a question whether it fits your writing style, the story or the narrator, so let’s break this down.
If your writing style is very detailed to the begin then it might look out of place not to mention which flower language the meaning comes from, and perhaps even how the character knows in the first place.
However even if your writing style usually isn’t chock full of details about every little bit of information perhaps it is very relevant to the story or the specific scene, and can be included based on that.
The third reasoning here relies entirely on the narrator or the scene and potentially the character’s knowledge if they are separate entities. What it comes down to is whether the narrator knows, and whether they know for certain or are just guessing – the information can then be included with regards to that.
And unless you know all of your readers that well or can draw from experience with previous fics, there is likely no way of knowing whether they will like being given that information. However based on the average person’s flower language knowledge, which is practically non-existent, there is a good chance they will appreciate it if you volunteer the information.
Also, if you have a specific meaning and flower language in mind, especially for a flower which has multiple, stating it will largely be beneficial to the understanding of your story and scene. There is something to be said here about foreshadowing but we’re not writing your story, so of course there is the possibility that you have left enough clues beforehand to leave the meaning unequivocal at the point of the appearance of the flower. And now it’s becoming an issue of context. Has your story provided the context it needs to be understood without specifically spelling it out?
This blog is intended as writing advice only. This blog and its mods are not responsible for accidents, injuries or other consequences of using this advice for real world situations or in any way that said advice was not intended.
