Character Dialects and Accents

Character dialects/accents/drawls can be tricky.  You want your character to feel native to their surroundings, or obviously not native, but how do you balance the clues? 

One project of mine (currently shelved), is set in Texas, mostly because it's where I'm from and I'm comfortable describing it.  I wanted one of my characters to really come across southern--a real country boy--but one of my beta readers commented that my replacing the -ing at the end of words with -in' drove her crazy.  She said, just say he's southern, we'll get it. Describe his drawl... use a word or two characteristic to the south... etc. 

I've read some stories with major dialect infused in the dialogue, and it didn't bother me.  To me, it got the point across, and kept in my mind that this is the way the character sounds.  As long it's consistent throughout the book, I didn't mind.  But I took what this trusted beta reader said as a law, and quickly amended all of that characters dialogue... and I can't even remember if I fully explained elsewhere about his drawl.  And now I don't like the idea that future readers would take it as if this character is actually saying words like "looking" or "fixing to" completely, because he's not........

What's your take on the written dialect or accent issue?  If your character has one of note, do you incorporate it into the dialogue, or just mention it and hope the reader remembers?  

Guilty Pleasures

Any of you into The Vampire Diaries?  If you aren't, I promise it's NOTHING like Twilight (though also a Guilty Pleasure of mine).  If you are... could you BELIEVE that season finale?? SO GOOD!  I'll probably watch the season over again this summer when it comes out on DVD, also a good idea for those of you who skipped out on this series.  It's worth it.

TEAM DAMON!!

Another show I've watched for the past what, six years?, is LOST.  With two episodes left, the ending can't come soon enough.  I've been sourly disappointed in the past few episodes, ESPECIALLY this week's.  I thought I had the TV on the wrong channel and was watching a bad Sci-Fi movie. I'm just ready for them to end it.

TEAM SAWYER!

Hubs and I have been watching Friday Night Lights, and it has something for both of us.  Football and man things for him, and teen drama for me!  It's seriously good.  We just finished season 1 and are an episode or two into season 2.  Love it!

TEAM RIGGINS!  

Teaser Tuesday

From my YA WIP, "Anemone"

I stepped off the bus into the warm sunshine and waved goodbye to the guys as they walked toward their street. The bench caught my eye, almost glowing with its emptiness. I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and turned to head home.

As the roar of the bus faded behind me, I heard a hesitant voice.

“Brady?”

I turned again and saw Reagan sitting in the same spot as this morning, wearing the same clothes. Her eyes looked worried.

“Where did you come from?” I asked.

“Here. You walked right past me.”

I raised an eyebrow and laughed. “Okay. Where are the cameras?”

“This isn’t a joke, Brady,” she said in a raised voice. There was that anxious vibe again, emanating off of her like steam.

I sat next to her with a mock stern look. “Because if I’m going to end up on some reality show, I feel like I should comb my hair or something.” That made her smile. “There it is.” I smiled back.

And the Winner is...

Lindsey at Dangerous With A Pen!

Congrats!  You've won a signed copy of Kristi Chestnutt's The Wolf Within!!

Please e-mail me at kristinrae023 at gmail dot com and tell me where you'd like it sent!

Her entry:

"I'm trying to tell you that I'm different, and it's not safe for you to be around me."
"I don't care what you are. I'm in love, I tell you. Love!"
"You don't understand! I'm a vamp...wait...were...no...ange...hmm...zomb... I give up. What hasn't been done?"

So very wonderfully done!  I loved reading all of the hilarious cheese! Thanks so much to everyone for participating!

Giveaway Reminder, and Other Things

Here is a reminder that my now 202+ Follower Giveaway ends TOMORROW!  Up for grabs is a signed copy of our blogging friend Kristi Chestnutt's The Wolf Within!

Enter on this thread HERE

(Blogger has been majorly stinking it up lately, so if that link doesn't work, there is one on my sidebar)

And speaking of sidebars!!  If you haven't checked out my Etsy store yet, please do!  I only have three photographs listed at the moment, but I've got more coming in from the lab on Monday, so by mid next week I should have more!  Thanks for the feedback I've gotten so far.  Even though I still haven't gotten any bites yet, I still feel excited about this venture.  I'm still learning how to promote the store, so if any of you have Etsy stores, please share what you do to promote yours :)

I've started a MAJOR health kick again, this time, it's going to stick.  I can feel it.  I've stopped buying dairy. That's right.  No milk in the house, no cheese... It's hard, but I figure if I don't eat it at home (and that's mostly where I eat), I will be cutting back dramatically.  Of course, I will still allow myself the occasional pizza and frozen yogurt treat (because it's freaking hot outside... I live in TEXAS for crying out loud), but that's about it.  I plan to try this for at least a month and see how it does.  This isn't for allergy reasons, this is for weight loss reasons.  I drink a LOT of skim milk... and the commercials say it helps weight loss... well, apparently I have one of those bodies that didn't take that claim seriously.  It LAUGHS at those commercials and says, "Oh yeah?!  Well watch THIS!" and poof, lets tack a muffin onto her hips! 

Anyway, I know you've all seen me declare a health kick several times this year alone, but this one will stick I tell you.  It MUST.  (And we thank you for your patience).

Happy Saturday!!!

Etsy Store is UP!!

The day has finally come!!

I've opened my Etsy store!!

As of this blog post, I only have two listings.  I'm learning as I go, so I'm sure I'll soon discover short cuts to make listing faster and easier.

Please check it out and let me know what you think!!

Visit:

www.kristincreative.etsy.com

or click the link in my sidebar.

And spread the word!!!!

SQUEE!! 

April in Review... Hello May!

I've been a little silent lately, and I apologize.  I just got back into town last night, so I have a lot of blog catching up to do!  I will post some photos of my trip soon (just regular photos for funsies... I didn't bring the "good" camera. lol).

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Link is on my sidebar! Ends this Sunday!

How was your April?  Hard to believe another month has come and gone, right?

Somehow, I only managed to read three books in April, which is a significant decrease from last month.  I hope to do better in May.

April Books:

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen *4/5

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld *4/5

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman *4/5

Attempted:

Prom Nights From Hell by Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michelle Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle

I read a short story and a half out of this and felt like I was wasting my time, so I brought it back to the library.  It just wasn't interesting enough to hold my attention.

Words Read in April: 986

Words YTD: 5740