Spelling...gah

[turps]

I've just been reading through a comment that one of my beta's sent ( showing that one typo that *always* misses the net 'till you post) She mentioned some spellings that I'd left in Brit form rather than US. I usually don't change how I spell. My words have 's' instead of 'z' I write colour not color etc. I suppose my question is does that even matter?

I always change the words I use if I'm writing for an American show, closet=wardrobe trashcan=bin the list goes on, but I believe that you *have* to write how your characters think. Just the same as I would expect anyone writing QAF UK or Professionals to use Brit words.

But spellings as well, surely that's going too far?

Comments

[maubast.livejournal.com]

A lot of publishers (I'm talking zine publishers, okay?) change the spellings to reflect the show's location. For instance, if one is writing The Sentinel, realise should be spelled realize. In fact, when I had a partner in AngelWings (my Press) he insisted on that. Now that I don't have a partner, I spell how I damn well bloody please, and allow others to do the same (barring misspellings of course *g*). So no, it doesn't bother me, but it bothers ALOT of people.

Interesting Points

[turps33.livejournal.com]

So no, it doesn't bother me, but it bothers ALOT of people.

That surprised me, I honestly thought that spellings wouldn't bother anyone. Shows what I know *g*

Maybe it's because I'm so used to reading american english that the differences just skim past me. I don't even notice anymore when I'm reading stories.

My beta changes things to the US version anyway, so I guess I'll just keep on with her way and not question her judgment anymore.

But, I'm still going to write how I write, then change after. If I had to sit and think about how to spell I'd write a story a year at most lol.

Thanks for your input.

Re: Interesting Points

[maubast.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your input

Thanks for listening.

[phoenyxphiyre.livejournal.com]

Me being a perfectionist, I'd change the spellings, too - but, imo, you're good, really, so long as you've got the differing vocab down. (Y'know - comforter vs. duvet, closet vs. wardrobe, etc...)

*That* bothers me more than using 'colour' rather than 'color' ever would.

For example - I read this Andromeda fic once where everything was great until Trance burst out with the line "You fancy Andromeda!" *mimics the sound of a scratching record* It just completely threw the whole thing off because the Drom characters don't talk like that, any more than, say, the Harry Potter characters would run around using American slang - one uses American English, the other British, and it's very much a part of each fandom's unique feel...

Can you tell it's a pet peeve of mine? *lol* Anyway - talk to you later, and hopefully I'll get a minute here soon to answer your interview questions. *grin*

Trance said what?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

After reading Bast's comment I think I'll change things too, like I said it doesn't give me any more work really.

When I first started writing that whole 'wardrobe=closet etc' thing drove me insane. I'd get stories back full of highlighted words, some I'd never even considered before. I still haven't got a handle on how a jumper is different to a sweater which is different to a sweatshirt.

I totally agree about vocab. I remember one Sentinel story I read where Blair swore, saying 'bloody' now I use that as a curse but I've never heard it said in the show. It just looked wrong and knocked me out of the story. Like that Trance comment would have done. It doesn't take much effort to find a beta to Americanise your work if you're not sure. But un betaed stuff is a rant for another day *g*

No hurry on your interview, I'm patiently waiting.