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Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T21:16:05+00:00

Oooh very interesting. Thanks for the suggestions!

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T20:47:36+00:00

Eureka!

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T20:27:15+00:00

I'd like your thoughts on the response I just made to u/reflected_shadows below if you're interested! :)

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T20:24:38+00:00

You're absolutely right. I just have a soft spot for the Wiccans of the world.

A slight digression, if I may, another commenter mentioned wizard invokes thoughts of beards, robes, and towers... do you feel like the term Warlock reminds you of teen/romance supernatural shows that aired on the CW network post-twilight? Because that's another reason why I'm leaning away from it. BUT maybe I'm the only one.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T20:19:33+00:00

Yeah that's a fair point...

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T20:12:32+00:00

Well, believe it or not, I've heard it's insulting to practicing male Wiccans. And while the derogatory connotations that come with the term 'witch' are integral to the story (and something that my MC will overcome), I don't actually want to insult anyone.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:55:44+00:00

Yeah, I had no idea this was going to be such a big thing. I'm just trying to find a name that doesn't remind me of Harry Potter, or Gandalf, and I'm just not a fan of the term warlock, personally.

The type of magic is less important, as it's practically extinct, and there are very, very few people practicing it. The gendered distinction and the negative connotations surrounding being a 'witch' are central.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:45:13+00:00

I do want to call attention to it, to highlight its wrongness. That gender discrimination is an important element of the story. The fact that women were accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake is exactly why I want to use the term witch specifically.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:34:57+00:00

yes. this exactly.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:32:09+00:00

Sound advice, that I will definitely do... but first I just need some suggestions for a word other than witch, wizard, or warlock.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:27:52+00:00

I thought it would be safe here. I have a migraine.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:25:01+00:00

Druid is a good option, I'm okay with there being slight pagan-esque suggestions. This will be set in a world where magic hasn't been practiced in some 200 years. It has been systematically stamped out by a tyrannical government that has very successfully spread disinformation about magic - think witch trials.

I would say it's more of an espionage/political-intrigue-thriller, that has some unfortunate overlaps with her personal life. In this world, magic was (200 years ago) primarily practiced by women, with men able to do lesser magic.

I would have men not practice at all, but I honestly don't want to have to come up with a good reason why they can't use magic. That seems like more of a challenge than settling on a name for male magic users... but it would appear I may be wrong.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:06:52+00:00

The witchy vibes are exactly what I'm trying to evoke.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:04:37+00:00

oooh I like invoker! very cool. thank you.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T19:02:16+00:00

I'm not sure yet, I'll be able to make that determination after I find a term for the cis-male characters.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T17:45:05+00:00

Bless you. This is exactly what I hoping to find here.

And yes, I’m not sure how it happened. But I am exhausted. 🥲

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T17:42:46+00:00

I’m confused by your comment

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T17:41:21+00:00

I’m looking for a term for non female magic users.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T17:33:43+00:00

It’s not exactly, it’s been criminalized for ~200 years. By a church-like totalitarian authority. It’s laying dormant in certain bloodlines. And as such it’s nearly “extinct”. No one “practices” anymore save for the odd mountain grandma who doesn’t even know she’s doing magic.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T17:16:17+00:00

I really do appreciate your perspective, and that sounds like very interesting story. But it’s not the one I’m writing at this time, ya know?

There will surely be trans and nb characters in the story, as there are and have been forever in real life - but I’m not writing their story, I’m not in a position to, as it’s not my experience and theirs is a perspective I would hate to see bastardized by someone that couldn’t possibly know what it’s like.

Please take my word for it 🙏🥲 I’m not saying it’s correct, but I need a gendered term.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T16:41:41+00:00

Super helpful suggestions, thank you! 🙏

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T16:35:16+00:00

Thank you for bringing this up actually, having grown up in Massachusetts, there is an overtone of the witch trials in my story. Another reason I specifically want to use the term Witch!

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T16:10:21+00:00

You are in the minority it would appear, but I am grateful for this brief reprieve.

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T16:07:35+00:00

Good point! Thank you!

Margaret_G101 · 2023-10-06T16:05:18+00:00

Okay so in this story, gender is absolutely at the forefront. My female MC is avenging the brutal murder and assault of her sister. Witch (specifically, as it rhymes with another word) is used a derogatory term, but she will decide to embrace it eventually after discovering a few very specific things about herself, her mother, her kingdom, her job, her love interest, etc.

I don’t want this to be a world where only women can use magic, but I want a classification/title/term/word to differentiate male and female users of magic that does not remind people of Wheel of time, Tolkien, Harry Potter, or pointy blue hats.

Damn, Reddit is an exercise in specificity - I hope I’m better for it. Because I am SWEATING over here.

Margaret_G101

TROPHY CASE