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This week: Sometimes It Is Best to Talk Edited by: Sara♥Jean  
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Sometimes It Is Best to Talk
Sometimes the written word doesn't convey just what you are hoping it does! Here is a way to approach the situation.
So, I have just finished spending most of the evening trying to convey something to one of my bosses via email. It seemed, no matter how many different ways I said it, what I was trying to tell him was simply not being understood. What did it take to solve it? About a 2 minute phone call. Seriously... hours of emails, solved in two minutes. Sometimes it's just better to talk.
This can also apply to writing. (I'll bet you thought I wasn't going to get there, huh?) Some things your character is saying may not sound quite the way you intended it to, when it all boils down to it. The way one person reads what you are writing may sound entirely different than the way you intended it. Whether the narration around it promotes attitude you didn't mean to convey, or even if just the accent you intended to create simply is not being portrayed quite the way you thought, there are ways to catch these problems and fix them.
1. Read your story or poem out loud: One way to catch oddities in your own writing is to simply read the story or poem out loud. Once your ear hears it, you may realize that isn't the way you intended it to sound, and you may be able to fix it.
2. Find someone you trust to read your story or poem out loud... to you: Ok, so I know I'm sounding a little strange on this one, but trust me! I would actually pick more than one person to do this - even if they read just a paragraph (stanza) or two out loud, it will give you a chance to see how they are interpreting the narration and dialogue. Do they add something you didn't realize was there? Are they saying that accent completely wrong, even though you swore you had it so everyone could clearly understand how it was supposed to go? Now, they aren't always right in things like that, but it certainly gives you a chance to get a different perspective.
3. Record your story or poem, then listen to it later: It could very well be that you feel foolish reading your story or poem out loud to yourself, or that maybe you don't catch the inconsistencies while also concentrating on reading it. So... one option is to read it and record it, then listen to it on playback. After you get past giggling at how silly your voice sounds on a recording (I do that), you can get down to the nitty gritty. Rewind if you need to, listen to a part again. Really take a good long look at what you are writing to make sure that you are conveying the message you want to.
4. Get silly with it: Ok, so this may not be to find the flaws, but it certainly always helps me enjoy my stories more. Sometimes, when I read them, I like to put on a random accent. I have a few, but probably not sharing them. They are not GOOD accents, they are just accents.  However, reading with funny accents gives my characters personalities that I didn't previously consider for them. Sometimes they are completely wrong (and in such an instance, I find a way my character would definitely NOT act), but in some cases they are right on target. And I giggle.
So, if your characters are having some communication problems, consider the out loud approach. Let's face it, texts and email just aren't everything. Sometimes, we need to talk face to face. Even to our characters. |
Let's take a look at some of the work from some of the newer members of the site. Don't forget to leave them some constructive feedback, and welcome them with a "Hi, hello, and how do you do?".
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There was lots of feedback from "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (March 26, 2014)" That is so fun! Let me share some of the readers' thoughts with you. I asked for a favorite mad, mad character.
harperpaul said, "You are right on the money with this topic. Very good!   "
Elle - on hiatus  said, "My favourite 'not quite all there' characters are Lord Ian Mackenzie in 'The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie' by Jennifer Ashley, and Wilhelm Montegue, the Earl of Devon in 'Song For Sophia' by Moriah Densley. Lord Devon is an autistic savant, and Lord Mackenzie has Aspergers. Both are wonderful characters, and the authors have done an excellent job with them and their stories."
Quick-Quill  said, "This a no brainer for me. I love the movie Benny and June, The Other Sister, and Rainman(though I've never watched the whole movie) These characters we come to love and want to succeed because of a disability. In Benny and June, I'm still not sure if Johnny Depp's character is actually "not all there" or just so smart or different he isn't easily accepted by society. Its the one story that keeps me guessing about that character."
Elfin Dragon-finally published said, "A mad character which I never saw until I was 35, believe it or not, was Willy Wonka. (not Johnny Deppe's version, although his was good) I always thought Gene Kelly had a knack for a bit of madness."
BIG BAD WOLF is hopping  said, "How about many of Bruce Campbell's Characters, especially Ash from the Evil Dead series. All of that death would mess with you."
LinnAnn -book writer  said, "I loved this news letter. lol You tying in March Madness to madness in writing is inspired. I've got an MC in my Forest Secrets that is a bad guy and mad...plus he's a xenophobe. It takes a bit of madness now and then doesn't it?
There is a cop in the Hamish Macbeth stories that is going mad with his hatred of Macbeth. It does make me want to keep reading to see when he totally cracks. lol
Thanks for the good read.
love, LinnAnn"
Well, if you weren't mad about mad characters before, maybe reading some of the other site members' favorite mad characters might inspire you to get a little madness on.
For those offering the compliments, thank you! I had so much fun writing this particular newsletter.
For those sharing your favorite mad, mad characters, I love them all! I had forgotten about some of those. Truly fun.
Now, let's see if we can't keep on inspiring this week. Here's this week's question:
This particular newsletter talks about reading your own stories out loud to be sure they say what they mean to say. Have there been times in your past (that you are willing to share) where you have been trying to get something across, and it simply didn't work until you talked about it to them personally? I showed one of mine in the newsletter, I am sure you guys have much funnier conversations to share! |
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Noticing Newbies: April 23, 2014 Issue [#6289]
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