accents

[trenchcoatedson.livejournal.com]

Is any one else writing a story with an accented character and has decided to actually write the accents in? And having trouble with it? Or has any one had this problem in the past- whether for NaNoWriMo or just any story?

I mean, not the accent itself, but the fact it's nothing like how you normally write or talk.

Currently I'm writing a story about a man from the Ozarks, and I wanted the story to seem as if he was writing it himself... like an autobiography or something. So I decided to implement his accents. Now, I'm actually from down South (Arkansas, the same place he is) so I can write a Southern accent perfectly fine.

But... what's driving me crazy is it's NOTHING like how I talk at all. It's driving me insane, and it's making me have trouble writing. It just seems awkward and WEIRD. I keep wanting to go through and beta this man's writing and edit the hell out of it. I've only written 1,107 words so far. Sad.

I could start over and write it normally, but... I just am not seeing the novel that way, nor am I seeing the character speaking properly. He has Asperger's Syndrome (undiagnosed), and he wants to write just how he talks, or else he feels like it's not actually him writing it.

So I don't know if I should just keep writing until I finally get used to it or start working on a new novel... Someone give me a pep talk or something, or personal advice. D:

Comments

[trenchcoatedson.livejournal.com]

I've never read Forrest Gump, but I've seen parts of the movie, so I know what you mean. I actually normally HATE books with accents/where the character writes how they speaks but it was calling to me... (I make an exception for Flowers for Algernon, though, cause damn that novel is good.)

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

The movie is fantastic and the book is completely different and horrible. And hard to read because of the dialect/writing skills!

[trenchcoatedson.livejournal.com]

Wow, really? It's rare you hear someone say the movie is better than the book!

Now I want to watch Forrest Gump...

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

I think it's the only instance where I'd say the film version was better!

I took a Film and Novel class last year, and we would read the book and then watch the accompanying movie. We all hated it, lol. It was the worst one. Except for maybe A Clockwork Orange; I hated the movie and the book passionately.

[technicolornina.livejournal.com]

I see your Forrest Gump, and raise you a Wizard of Oz. The book = HELLACIOUS CRAP.

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Wizard of Oz! I call.

[technicolornina.livejournal.com]

LOL! I don't see how the FIRST book sold, much less the next 13. The movie > the book. BIG TIME.

And for personal preference, Lord of the Rings (movies) > Lord of the Rings (books), as well. No annoying tangents or random six-page poems to slog through!