fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2393 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2393 ⌋

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So, I've started this story where there are two POV characters, one British and one American. Usually when I write, I use British English (colour over color, flat instead of apartment etc.), but I'm considering writing American English instead when writing the American character.

My question is this, would that seem very messy? Does it seem like a good idea, or should I just stick to either British or American English?

Definitely stick to one, IMHO. Only exception is if you writing down a letter or something that the American/British character wrote -- then it make sense to switch.

This - though if you want to have someone American pick what the American character says, it probably could add something to the story - but it's not really that important.

Short answer -- do change vocabulary, don't change spelling unless you're transcribing something the character wrote.

This.

I think doing that in dialogue could work well stylistically, if it fits with the tone of the narration. In the narration itself, though, that would indeed be messy, so stick with your usual.

ROWSDOWER!

bowse bowse bowsdower, sibbity sobbity sowsdower, bibbidy bobbidy bowsdower...

For me, it would depend on how the story is formatted. If the characters each have their own chapters or sections of chapters that are just their own POV, either in first person or third limited, using the appropriate spelling would help me get into their view. If the whole story is third person limited to the two of them, or the POV switches off between sentences or even paragraphs, it would strike me as very messy and jarring.

I agree. If you're writing from a particular character's POV, I'd personally find it distracting to have an American character think "flat" or a British character think "apartment" (and they certainly should speak using the right terms) but if you jump around a lot with the POV, stick to one version of the language for non-dialogue portions.

Don't do it. Write however you normally write. I've read plenty of British authors who've written American characters. No change of spelling needed.

Too messy, IMO. Unless you're writing something the American character has written, stick to British spelling. And definitely NOT try and switch up vocab between British English and American English unless you're writing dialogue for the American.

If it's close third person perspective - i.e., we're hearing their intimate thoughts - then I'd say definitely change the vocabulary and the syntax. Spelling isn't isn't necessary, but you could try that. It would work especially well if they each have their own separate chapters.

If you're doing a more omniscient or distant third person narrative, though, it could get distracting. That said, reading an "American" character who thinks in English syntax about "lorries" would be just about the worst thing ever.

[ SECRET POST #2393 ]

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