Doing the voices

Confession: I need to cut back on the coffee. I was a little shaky this morning.

Reading:

• "L. DeBard and Aliette: A Love Story," by Lauren Groff
  
• The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton
  

Writing:

• "Ferian Fetlock Hitches a Ride" - 1,245 words (Estimated completion 14%)
• "Ferian Fetlock Catches a Cold" - Outline 100%
  

Revising:

• "The Revenant"
• "Cora and the Sea" - Third draft 50%

I had the opportunity to read part of Ferian aloud today, and I was actually a little stymied when it came to the character of Henry the blacksmith.

I wrote him with an obvious "accent," by indicating dialect in speech. I did so with apostrophes to indicate dropped sounds, and also with a sprinkling of dialectical words that seemed to fit the character and area.

My question--how should such a passage be read aloud? Should I go full out and do the dialect to the best of my ability? Or should I read in my normal voice and ignore the dropped consonants? Or, read in my normal voice as written and drop those consonants?

I'm going to say no to the last option right off the bat. Nothing sounds stupider than a literal reading of a passage written in dialect.

Of the remaining choices, I think either is legitimate as long as you commit to it. Tonight, I didn't really commit to the dialect, and it came out sounding off. Still, it was the first time I had read Ferian aloud, so I don't think I did too badly for having no practice.

Reading it aloud revealed a mass of hidden flaws, awkward phrasings and unclear development. I've got my work cut out for me on this one. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to write another hundred words on chapter 2....

Publication Status:

• Submitted: 5
  
• Accepted: 1
• Rejected: 2
• Pending: 2