People, Places, and Things

I grew up on a small blueberry farm in the middle of the boonies with a bunch of rednecks who got pricked by jagger bushes n'nat, many of them drank melk and washed up with rags, pushed buggies through grocery stores, and loved watching Stillers football.

Yes, this is really how many Pittsburghers, especially in the outer regions, speak. To this day, even with speech and voice lessons, I still say probly instead of probably. I can get out of Pittsburgh, but I can't get the Pittsburgh out of me. But it's fine. When my friends say, huh? to something odd I said, I pull out my Pittsburgese dictionary and let them read.

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It's not only Pittsburghers that have created their very own inner circle language. Small communities around the world have odd words to describe certain things. In London, there is a small community where they call boots, daisies. There is a reason for this and if you know the answer - put it in the comments, and I let you know if you're right.

People from southern California often say the word "the" before describing a road. They might say, "You take the 101 to the 1". People from Pittsburgh never put a "the" before giving directions. They might say, "You take 79 to I90".

Knowing these small differences per region and small town helps ground the reader in reality. You, as the writer, want people who live in the same areas your characters live to feel like the characters are real people. If they say a word that is not used in that area, it will throw them out of your novel. They may even stop reading.

While working on REDWOOD BLOOD, I had a young reader in my targeted age range read the first 4 chapters. He said he really liked it, but the main character "wasn't from here." It threw me back. Why did my reader say this? Well, I was allowing my main character to live in Mill Valley, but talk like she lived in Pittsburgh. A classic newbie mistake. I hadn't done my research to know how the local kids spoke. I used what I knew from growing up back east. It didn't work.

Researching for my new book, THE LINK, I have tried to find links to slang in Alaska and slang in Oregon. It's taking time, but I am getting to know some of the local jargon. You too should research the way people talk to one another in the town you find your characters living in or moving to.

Here are some of the interesting words and meanings I found: They came from the Alaskan website below.

 

Going Outside: Leaving the state for any reason.

Lower 48:  The 48 states south of Alaska. 

Cheechako: Anyone new to Alaska.

Sourdough:  Anyone old to Alaska.

Cache (cash):  A very small, food storage cabin - elevated out of reach of animals and your kids.  

Ice Worm: Small, very tiny worms that actually live in glacial ice.  

Bear Insurance: Handguns .357, 44 magnum or better, Pump 12 gauge shotgun, or small, handheld nuclear weapons.

Permanent Fund: Money from the state for living in Alaska.

Tin Dog: Snowmobile, Ski-Doo

Bear Insurance #2: It's the best protection of all...always be with someone you can outrun.

Mukluk: No...it's not something you just stepped in out there on the tundra, but rather very warm, fur boots usually knee high.

The Bush: Places in Alaska you can only get to by plane or boat (that's almost the entire state).

Termination Dust: The first, light dusting of snow on just the mountain tops.  It's a warning - the first, really big snow is just around the corner.  This of course, triggers an huge shopping frenzy.

Cabin Fever: When Alaskans start bouncing off the walls, from being inside those walls, way too long in winter. 

Ditch Divers: All-wheel drive vehicle owners learning they can't drive fast on snow and ice. 

Arctic Entry: A pre-entry to your home where dirty, slushy boots, winter gear, mud boots, work clothes, etc... can be taken off before they're taken off 'inside' your clean house.

Mosquito Dope (aka Bug Juice): Mosquito repellent: spray, liquid, and roll on. Patches, bracelets, smoke rings, and citronella anything. 

Alaskan Sneakers: Waders - leg, hip, or chest waders.

Combat Fishing: Casting a fishing line where 1500 other people are doing the same thing at the same time.  Oh! and you only have six inches between you and those on either side of you.

Sing Song: Any concert, recital, or competition for singing.

Breakup: The process of all the snow and ice finally melting away marking the end of winter and the beginning of tourist season.

Some great websites for slang and/or local talk are these:

Talk like locals in cities around the world:  www.slanguage.com

Regional vocabularies: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Regional_vocabularies_of_American_English

Canadian slang by region:  http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/slang/canadian-slang-by-region.html

Slang around USA cities: http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-u-s/163324-your-citys-slang.html

American business slang: http://stupaul.net/aeo/now-slang.htm

Brittish slang:  http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

American slang wrong side of the tracks: http://www.englishdaily626.com/slang.php?118

CB terminology and trucker slang: http://www.truckercountry.com/cb-terminology.html

Alaskan slang: http://www.untotheuttermost.com/Alaska%20Slang.html

The look of the people and the town:

Another aspect of the town or country that you've placed your characters in is the "look" of the people, and the places they live or work in. I mean, what do the people collectively look like? What vibe does the town give? What do the buildings look like?

Right now I am in Vermont visiting family. We've been coming here for over 20 years. In that time the people have changed, but not so much the town. The look of the town is still very much the same.

Vermont houses are big. They look like two houses connected by a lower level walkway. Many of these homes are over 50 or 100 years old. Some look Victorian, some like a barn, and some are log cabins. Many of them are run down. They need paint. They need weeds pulled, and cement steps fixed. Most have dirt, or gravel roads to get to them. The lawns are huge, massive areas of cut grass. And no one is ever playing in them.

The people have changed from thin, skinny, smokers. To overweight, in many cases obese, smokers. The fashion is tank top, cut off jean shorts, flip flops. It's difficult to find a healthy meal in town. Most foods are fried. And there are cigarette butts all over the ground.

The summer weather is oppressively hot. The winters are harsh. Many people marry early, as in 18 year-old grooms and brides. Most of these young families have 3-5 children. A lot of them are on welfare. It's become a depressed area. And yet, people gather. They hang out on their porches and shoot the shit.

You can drop by your neighbors house without calling first. Every kid is on a sports team. The whole town watches little league. People help one another. There is a feeling of cooperation and trust. Farmers leave food in baskets, with a box for your money. You take, you pay, you leave. Trust.

The surrounding lake is beautiful, with rolling green hills, and purple mountains in the background. There are parks, and free concerts. People smile and say hello when you pass by.

From all this description I've just give you, can you "feel" this town? Does it remind of you any others? Do you like or dislike it? Would you visit or not? Would your character get married young or do everything she can to leave? These are things you must think about when you write.

Things:

What about the things your character covets? Does she own a special necklace? Is it in style now, or really old? What about her room? What things are in there that will give your reader a tell about your character?

If I wrote that my main character in THE LINK, Seit, hid all of her artist brushes under her bed so her crazy Uncle wouldn't find them and sell them. What would you guess about her? About him?

What if I said, Seit loved to paint, but when her Uncle needed extra cash to make ends meet, she put her art supplies out at the garage sale. What do you think of her now?

The things, and how your characters use or hide them will tell a lot about your character.

The things in the town your character lives also give a full picture of your character, and how they grew up, or what they are dealing with now.

In Vermont there are tractors for sale in many yards. They are old-fashioned looking tractors, like the red ones in toy stores. Do you ever see tractors for sale in your town? In a city? With this small detail, you can let your reader know where your main character grew up.

So wherever your characters end up, be sure to know the local slang. Use these words sparingly, or your work may become dated. If used correctly, your readers will know exactly where in the world your character stands without much description.

Be sure to know the "look" of the people and the town, and be sure to know the things that make up the town and your main characters home.

Knowing these three things, and making choices on how you use them in regards to your characters will make your writing much stronger.

Good luck and as always,

Write~On

Angie

SCENE TYPES: How should they be used?

While working on my latest novel, THE LINK, I realized I had to go back and study scenes. Which at first, I thought, blah. But I found a few sites that were helpful, and used my notes from great writing teachers to fill in the rest. 

Below is what I discovered. Spice up your chapters by adding more interesting and complex scenes. 

Setting: Where are we? Well, where are your characters? Use your senses: Sights? Sounds? Colors? Textures? 

Atmosphere/Mood/Tone: The Atmosphere is usually created by the characters emotions and feelings. The Mood is how the reader feels when he/she is reading the words. And the Tone is the writer's attitude that comes through her/his writing. 

Voice: This is what makes the author's writing unique. It's the style, attitude, personality of the ms. 

Introduction: Who are all the players? What's the big issue?

Exposition: Necessary information, and get to the point as quick as you can. 

Transition: How do you move the reader and your characters from one place to another? Do it swiftly. 

Opposites: Two people from the opposite sides of the tracks come together and join forces. 

 

Preparation: What will it take to prepare for the task at hand?

Aftermath: How does the character react? What are the character's feelings about what just happened?

Investigation: The reader needs information and so does your character. How do they gather it? What is it? Is it revealed slowly, or dumped in someones lap?

Revelation: Something important - the ah-ha moment. 

The Prize: Something is given to, or found by the main character that can help she or he. It can be used as a weapon, or to uncover the key to what they need.

Escape: Your character must try to escape something. This could be escaping from his or herself. Or this could mean running from bulls. Whatever it is, they must try to get away.

Pursuit: The tables are turned and the character is now going after something. Think Finding Nemo when Marlin, severely afraid of the sea, loses his son and goes out on his own to find him. 

Seduction: The convincing moment. Someone is trying to get someone else to believe in something - could be true, could be false.

Love: Does it need an explanation? When two characters come together, and um...kiss, make out, flirt, fall in love. The main character must learn something from this interaction. 

Reversal of Expectations: In the beginning the character expects something or wants something and then something happens to reverse this thought or expectation entirely. 

Unexpected Visitor: Oh no, not Aunt Mae. Someone unexpected or unwanted shows up and does something to send the character into action. 

So, make sure your settings are believable. Know the surroundings that you place your characters in. Know how they will react to an unexpected visitor, or how they would prepare for a big day, and how they move from one scene to another. Make these choices when you write, and your writing will be stronger.

Write~On

Angie

Dialogue: Is yours believable?

While researching for my first novel, REDWOOD BLOOD, I studied the way tweens and teens talk. I listened to them in Starbucks. I sat next to them at parks. I even asked a group of skaters what some of their terms meant. Luckily my boys are still too young to be embarrassed by their mother. 

What I found is that in every group, or clique, there is a certain tone to their collective voices. So if I wanted to write about the skaters, I'd need to know some key terms like:

Air: To me and you, this means the stuff we breathe. But to the skater it means to propel oneself into the air without popping the board.

Bust: This could be interpreted a few ways to us, but to the skater, it means to execute a trick perfectly.


Now if I wanted to write a story about gamers, those who play video games. I'd need to know that:

Energy Bar: Does not mean something you eat. It's the indicator of the avatars current state of health.

Mule: Is not a donkey, but a secondary character used for more storage space for the stuff you want to lug along. 




This same idea can be applied to sports groups. Kids on teams have come up with specific languages to describe what's going on in the game. 




The problem with using any of the "in" terms is that you may date your material. Think about the words:



Cool: awesome
Gnarly: very cool
No Duh: come on, I know
Dude: addressing someone
Sike: not really 
Jam: to play music together
Psych: just kidding
Rad: awesome
Baby: cute girl
Dibs: to claim

Righteous: cool
Deuce: hot-rod : car
Daddy-O: addressing someone 
Knuckle Sandwich: fist in the face
Lid: a hat
Bird: a cute girl


Some of the above words are still being used, but many of them have been dropped or forgotten. If you try to use the word Bird for girl today, teens would not know what you were talking about. 

The other place I studied tween and teen terms was the movies. I sat and watched, taking notes, on a few great movies. One of them was THE GOONIES. 

The tweens and teens in this movie, believe it or not, do not have tons of dialogue. Here's a list of some of what they said, and how they said it.

• "Slip her the tongue."
• "Goonies never say die."
• "The next time you take a test, it will be at another school."
• "I pigged out."
• "Slick shoes. Are you crazy?"
• "Shame. Shame. I know your name."
• "These are somebody else's wishes. Somebody else's dreams."
• "For sure, Mrs. Walsh."
• "Shut up Mouth."
• "Senior jerk alert."
• "Ah, shit."
• "I'm setting booty traps."
• "Sounds like Kong."
• "Man. You smell like phys ed."
• "How many more years do I have before I get fat? Before my hair falls out? Before I look like him?"

As you can see, some of these lines could be said by kids today, and some of them would date your manuscript. I don't hear many kids saying, for sure, or phys ed - it's PE now to my kids. Same thing, different saying. But that means everything when you are writing for tweens and teens. 

My suggestion for you is this:

• research slang today
• research the terms used within each group
• pick those that seem less odd
• use them sparingly
• do not use terms you used to use in school
• do not over do slang terms because in a few years they will have changed
• watch the movies in your genre and take notes on dialogue

Write~on

Angie

Interview with Sandra Carrington Smith: Author of Killer in Sight

   I met Sandra via Facebook. I love reading about people, especially when they've lived an interesting life such as hers. I also thought her books looked interesting, and so I reached out to her for an interview. She said yes! 

   Sandra comes from an amazing background of Voodoo and the Catholic Religion. Of course she became a writer. 

Below are the questions I asked her:

1.     What does the description “life-observer” mean to you?

I love to sit back and watch people as they go through their daily lives, and observe situations as they unfold. Each person has a story to tell, and each situation offers a lesson to learn, so I consider it a treat to be a witness to it all. It’s like getting cheat codes in the game of Life.

2.     You wrote poetry as a young person. How does that help you with your novels today?

I don’t write poetry any more, but I think one of the important things I learned from it is to pay attention to my characters’ feelings as the story unfolds.

3.     What’s the oddest thing a fan has sent you in the mail?

Luckily, I haven’t received anything odd, up to this point. However, I have received a couple of very cool gifts. One of them was a rosary described in my first novel, THE BOOK OF OBEAH, which I am using for the cover of THE ROSARIES, the novel I am currently working on. The other one was a beautiful spoon featuring the symbol that appears on the cover of THE BOOK OF OBEAH, and my initials beautifully carved to represent a snake.

4.     What was the most interesting thing about living with a devout Catholic Father and a Voodoo priestess Mother?

Exposing a child to a variety of beliefs allows that child to open his/her mind to, and respect, the beliefs of others. Given that I also had a grandmother who practiced Strega ( a traditional path of Italian witchcraft) made it even more interesting. In the end, the coolest thing to find out was that all traditions, and all religions, are merely different paths to get connected to a Higher Power. As we say in Italy, all roads lead to Rome.

5.     What time do you get up and what do you eat for breakfast?

My schedule varies with the seasons. In the winter, when my children are in school, I get up at 5:30 to get my sons up and ready; in the summer, when the only time I have to write is at night, I go to bed very late and get up very late the next morning. I rarely eat breakfast – coffee, plenty of it, is my first companion of the day.

6.     Why did you write the Book of Obeah?

Good question. Honestly, I don’t know. I always loved to write, but with young children, I never had time to really consider writing as a profession. I woke up one morning, six years ago, with a few sentences in my head, and wrote them down. After I did that, more sentences began to form in my mind, and Melody’s character began to surface. I didn’t know where the story was going, but as I wrote, it took a life of its own and I kept on writing. I didn’t even plan to publish it at first, but a series of strange occurrences led me in that direction, and here I am.

7.     What one thing is a MUST have on your writing desk?

I can’t think of anything in particular, aside, maybe, from a strong cup of coffee.

8.     Describe your writing in 5 words:

Uplifting. Suspenseful. Redeeming. Hopeful. Fast-paced.

9.     What is your blog about?

I don’t post as much as I used to, but I like to blog about life itself. I write about all kinds of things, and try to find a spiritual twist and a lesson into all of them. I guess most of my blog entries are about finding the sacred into the ordinary.

10.  Who is your biggest cheerleader?

Is it okay if I pick a few? My sister Patrizia is on top of the list; also my consulting editors, Dena and Sherrill; my agent, Natalie, and several of my readers. One reader in particular, Mr. Powers, constantly sends me notes of encouragement and appreciation, and although he struggles with his health at times, he will drive many miles to attend my events. Mr. Powers, if you read this, I hope you know how much your support means to me.

11.  What’s the funniest thing a fan has asked you?

“Why do you kill and hurt people?” (In reference to my writing, of course….)

12.  What is your perception of reality?

Life is a dream of our Higher Mind. As such, it can be changed by offering suggestions to our subconscious, the same way one would alter night dreams by changing daily routines. Stay tuned for this whole concept to be revisited in the final book of THE CROSSROADS SERIES (The Book of Obeah was the first book; The Rosaries is the second; The Key will be the third, and Dream Gates will be the fourth.)

13.  Any advice for newbie writers?

Don’t ever give up. There are many new tools available to authors, compared to even five years ago, so there is no reason at all to abandon your dreams. Take the time to do a little research, take everything with a grain of salt and focus on creating something YOU would enjoy reading. Another important thing…ask an extra pair of eyes to take a good look, possibly someone who’s not part of your family or in your circle of close friends. Honest feedback is vital, and good editing is essential.

14.  What’s the one thing you discovered about yourself that has changed you?

Probably resilience -- both physical and mental. The business of writing can be tough – many hours spent alone behind a keyboard, and rejection around many corners, can truly test one’s personal strength. I’ve discovered that I don’t need much sleep, and if someone doesn’t like what I write, I can accept their criticism without being crushed.

15.  How do you think the publishing world is evolving: For the good or bad?

My mind generally runs on a progressive gear, so my assumption is that even if it is painful to see bookstores closing down, digital editions are the way of the future. E-books allow people to read more, because they are less expensive and can be stored into a very compact space, and they are also eco-friendly. Anything that encourages readers to read more can only be good.

16.  Why did you write Housekeeping for the Soul?

My passion belongs with fiction; however, when I first got out there in the big, scary world of publishing, I knew no editor would give the time of day to a brand-new author they never heard of. 

My agent at the time asked me if I would be willing to write a nonfiction to open the doors, so I decided to give it a shot, especially since my blog posts were, for the most part, inspirational. I love all things spiritual, and after being a stay-at-home mom for almost twenty years, I am very familiar with housekeeping, so I married the two concepts, and Housekeeping for the Soul was born.

17.  If someone said, “Your writing changed my life.” What would they be referring to?

Probably to my motto: “A different perspective can change your perception of reality.” Life can be seen as the light emanating from a diamond. It reflects in different colors depending on where you’re standing when you look at the diamond, so if you want to change the light you see, all you have to do is shift from your current position.

18.  How can my blog readers help you to become an even bigger success?

If they like my stories, I hope they will help me spread them through word of mouth. People can communicate, today, like they have never been able to do in the past, so a good word shared with friends and family can literally go around the world.

19.  Do you belong to any writer’s groups? If so, which ones and why?

I do. I belong to one physical writers’ group, Triangle Area Freelancers, which meets in Raleigh the last Wednesday of every month, and to several groups online. 

I even founded my own group on Facebook, called WRITERS AND ARTISTS SHARE! We help one another by sharing the work of other artists and by offering encouragement and feedback. 

If you are on Facebook, feel free to join us, even if you simply enjoy the creative work of others. We can always use the feedback of readers and art enthusiasts.

20.  What one word best describes you?

Stubborn. Once I get an idea on my mind, I don’t let it go until I am fully satisfied with the outcome.

   21.  What’s the scariest thing you’ve found to be true in the Voodoo and Catholic belief systems?

Fear. In all religions. Fear is a tool that organized systems use to control those who don’t know any better. Fear screams directly at the survival mechanism connected to our primal instincts, and thus it can spread faster than a virus. My religion is to neutralize fear, in all its forms.