Should You Use Pop Culture References in Your Novel? A 5-Step Checklist
Many stories are told in the context of what we know, what we’ve experienced. This is especially true for those in contemporary settings – romance, urban fantasy, mystery, YA, thrillers, etc.... When set in a world so like our own, pop culture references can be a key tool – a way to ground the reader, show feelings, situations, or details.
But knowing when to add these gems and when to abstain is a delicate balance.
To add a pop culture reference with maximum effect, check it against the below:
1. Will your target audience understand? (Who is your market?)
2. Will they instantly recognize it?
3. Will it stand the test of time?
4. How many pop culture references have you already used?
5. Is this an easter egg or a pillar reference?
Pop culture references can come in all shapes and sizes. Movies, songs, famous people, and more. They can easily and quickly add detail and depth to your story without having to spell it out, having to “tell” the reader.
For example, your main character could look like Anna Kendrick wearing a “Doctor Who” shirt, singing a Taylor Swift song – that creates an image for your reader, showing her looks, personality and preferences, without much exposition.
But, in using those references, you are making a lot of assumptions. Assumptions that might hurt more than they help.
So:
1. Will Your Target Audience Understand (Who is your market?)
Understanding who you are writing for is key when adding pop culture references. Are your readers going to know who Anna Kendrick is? If they do, they will most likely recognize a Taylor Swift song, but are they going to understand your “Doctor Who” reference? How nerdy versus trendy is your audience? Know who generally reads your genre, who you are targeting for your book, and make sure your references are keyed to that demographic.
For example, according to a NPD (Bookscan) study commissioned by RWA in 2017, the average age for a romance reader is 35 -39. So when you are writing that contemporary romance with characters still in or fresh out of college, be sure there is a balance between what is realistic for your main characters (MCs) to reference/wear/know, and what your readers (who are, on average, 15-20 years older than your MCs) will instantly recognize. So throwing in a Taylor Swift reference is probably pretty safe because she is everywhere and popular with both age groups. Although for those in college now, it might be more accurate to reference BTS or a popular Tik Tok star. But are your readers going to understand that reference? Be sure because otherwise you run the risk of distracting them (who the hell is BTS?),pulling them out of the story, and having them put down your book.
It works the other way as well – your average 35-40 year old is instantly going to know who NKOTB is, but anyone younger might have the same reaction as above (who the hell is NKOTB)? So would it make sense to have a current college student make that reference, even if your audience would understand? It is a careful balance.
2. Will They Instantly Recognize It?
Instant recognition of a pop culture reference goes hand in hand with knowing your market, but it takes it one step further. Say your readership would know Star Wars and knows what it means when your main character wears a “Star Wars” shirt. Most people will, nerdy or not, so that reference is a relatively safe bet and is an easy way to confirm the geeky personality of your character. Fabulous. But, depending on your level of nerd-tastic, you might be tempted to take it one step further. What if you said your main character was wearing a “D-O Droid” shirt? That droid is stinkin’ cute, and I would wear that shirt in a heartbeat. And some of your readers might recognize that it is something from Star Wars... maybe? But because it doesn’t have the same instant recognition as the“Star Wars” branding and your readers had to take a second to think about it, to make the connection, it could be distracting. Anything that takes away from you story instead of adding to it should be immediately removed.
Or, for a less nerdy, more popular option – lyrics and song titles. These are very popular additions to contemporary stories because they can so easily convey atmosphere. But you are taking a big risk. While your readers might all recognize Maroon 5, they aren’t going to necessarily instantly recognize the atmosphere created by saying “Sugar” by Maroon 5 is playing in the background at the dance. You’d be better off describing the music to set the mood.
3. Will it stand the test of time?
Pop culture is fleeting and constantly changing, so make sure any reference you put in has a chance of standing the test of time. You aren’t always going to know, obviously, but it is something to think about before casually throwing in a reference. Like the Star Wars reference above, we know that movie franchise has stood the test of time and probably isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The same can’t yet be said for referencing Game of Thrones. GOT was a huge phenomenon, but are people still going to be watching it, referencing Daenerys, in 10 years? Maybe, but make sure your story doesn’t hinge on your reader knowing what the mother of dragons looks like.
4. How Many References Have You Already Used? (Use sparingly – don’t be lazy)
Use your references sparingly. Yes, pop culture can be a powerful, quick, and easy tool. It can be a great way to show versus tell. But your readers picked up your book because they wanted to read your writing, not People magazine. You are the only one that could write your book, and they want to hear how you would describe the character or the situation, not just be inundated with references.
5. Is it an Easter Egg or Pillar Reference?
Knowing what a character looks like or the atmosphere of a scene are pillar details in a story – something you need your readers to understand to make sure they are following the story. If you use a reference to describe these, they must be understood and should follow the rules above. But not every reference is going to describe a pillar detail. Maybe your main character has a cat named Garfield. I’m hoping everyone gets that reference, but if they don’t, does it matter? Not really. It is just an easter egg — a fun thing for you as the author to put in because you were a huge Jim Davis fan.
Exceptions to every rule
As always, there are exceptions to every rule. Thanks to Netflix and Spotify, people who weren’t even born yet are finding and loving things like Friends, Nirvana, and more. So saying your hero is “very Chandler” might resonate through the age gap, but it is always better to stay on the safe side for your pillar references.
Finally, you can’t write a pop culture reference post without mentioning Gilmore Girls, which is the biggest exception to the rules above — ever. I didn’t understand the majority of those references and they seemed to use them about every other scene, but thankfully (most of the time) I didn’t need to. So the glory of Rory and Lorelai lives on in fast talking, vague understanding awesomeness.
TL;DR
Pop culture references are tricky, so use them sparingly and thoughtfully and your readers will love you for it.