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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/38940
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Fiction is never "realistic".

Frodo doesn't go to the toilet even once during the months he's on the road. He must have had massive constipation at Mount Doom.

The purpose of fiction is to entertain, possibly educate, the reader. If your aim is to teach the reader military jargon, then incorporate a textbook approach into your novel, with definitions in text and a glossary in the back. I wouldn't want to read that, but I'm sure there are nerds who do.

If your aim is to provide an experience of miliatry life to the reader, then think about what you want this experience to entail. Is part of it being confused by the jargon? Then by all means confuse the reader. _But make it clear to them that you are doing this on purpose!_ For example by having the viewpoint character think that the jargon is confusing _them_.

If on the other hand you find that your focus on military jargon is distracting you, your characters, or your (beta) readers from what you really want them to focus on, simply treat it like Frodo's bowel movements – remain silent about it.

* * *

The one single overriding advice to any writer at all times is:

## Know what story you want to tell

and include everything that is relevant to it and nothing that is not relevant to it.

Original score: 1