Writers have many rules to follow. (Or, not.) I’m pretty sure some of the rules are made up by folks who don’t write but feel the need to correct and instruct those who do.
One rule concerns accents: “If a character has an accent, don’t overdo it.” A word or two written “oddly” will give the reader the idea.
Another writer’s adage is: “Rules are made to be broken.” I happily broke the accent rule in my WIP. Freddy’s mother is Georgian (not the state), and as I got to know her, I thought it would be fun to give her an accent. Then I fell down a rabbit hole. I became YouTube Certified in Georgian accents and had a great time looking at Georgia and the people.
As Mrs. Sander’s accent developed, I came close to ruining her character. Luckily I read a scene to Ruth, and she said, “Don’t give her an accent.” It took a while to return Mrs. Sanders to her old self. Some scenes were easier to fix because I had missed giving her an accent in those scenes. These kinds of things are book killers:
First, an inordinate amount of time was spent reworking dialog, listening to pretty Georgian women talk, and staring off into space.
Second, dialog changes in a completed book can be plot busters. There were reasons Mrs. Sanders said what she said pre-accent. Now, it is my job to make sure I visit every word she says to make sure I’ve cleaned up her accent AND that any foreshadowing remains. I have copies of her original dialog, but in revision, there have been subtle scene changes.
Rabbit holes are a pain when I think about how much time I wasted, but it sure was fun!
A Note: (September 17) It is good that I keep copies of all my changes because not only was this a rabbit hole, but a bad idea. Mrs. Sanders has “lost her accent.” It wasn’t an important plot point and was a distraction.
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