There are right ways and wrong ways to use pop culture references. Most of the time, they're used in the wrong way. The problem with pop culture references is that we don't know what will still make sense to readers in twenty years. Will people know who Brittney Spears and K-Fed are in twenty years, or will they have faded into obscurity? Yet some pop culture becomes written into history. Who would have thought that Elvis, originally a lounge singer, would still be part of our culture today? But if you use pop culture references correctly, you can actually add some depth to your story.

Never use pop culture references for comparisons. Don't describe something as "it was like the time on the Simpsons when..." Any time you get too specific with a reference, you are going to have a smaller audience aware of what you're referring to. Another error is trying to make a humorous point with these type of references. In a few years, the humor is going to go over the head of anyone who doesn't recognize it. Always write for as broad of an audience as possible.

On the other hand, while writing in a particular time setting, you need to add details about that setting to make it come alive. So if you're writing a novel about children set in the Eighties, adding a detail such as munching on Pop Rocks or wearing one white glove may add depth to your story. Fiction is one area where references to well-known fads can flesh out your story. Just make sure they were well-known, not just a passing television show or rock star. And only use them occasionally. If you have more than one every few pages, that is probably too many.

Use references to popular culture when they are consistent with your story. Don't make them too obscure. Make them general enough to relate to most people, but use them only occasionally in your story. Used correctly, they can add depth and realism to what you write.

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