Is it insulting for a middle class author to try and write convincing working...

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...class characters? I'm working on a novel right now, but have lived a sheltered, somewhat cosseted bourgeois life. I'm torn on whether I should attempt phonetic dialogue or not. It could really come across as embarrassing. I think I have a good ear for the dialect of my region, but there's always an element of stereotyping involved in these things.
 
Why would you write phonetic dialogue just becuase it isn't your own pronunciation? Would you write words phonetically if your character was American, or Scottish? Would you expect a "working class" author to write your accent out phonetically?

Phonetic dialogue is generally a pain to read. Don't do it.
 
Write the damn book.
Then you can go back and tidy up if you want.
Hemingway is quoted as saying that he never changed a word,
He is also quoted as saying that the first draft of anything is shit.
Stop fussing and procrastinating and write the damn book.
 
As a creative writing tutor, I don't see this as insulting at all - as long as you are a good writer! Because every good writer has the ability to put him/herself into a character's shoes and life, whether that character is a Catholic priest or a murderer! But having said that, do bear in mind the real possibility of your writing coming over as rather patronizing (but don't let that put you off! Simply learn to be your own critic and read it through carefully!)

And phonetic dialogue - no, definitely not. It's possible to convey to your readers that this person is from Glasgow, or Manchester, or Birmingham, by throwing in the odd word that readers will recognise as characterising a certain regional dialect or inflection. Catherine Cookson did this very well; her characters - usually from the North-East, called each other 'hinny', and used the 'netty' (outside toilet, to you and me!).

So go for it! Identify with your readers and your characters - and carry on writing your novel! The very best of luck with it!
 
Ha ha. To be a successful author or to even be an author at all you must be able to write a character. What author writes only about characters they have been? That would be impossible there are countless authors who write about POW's or lawyers or peasants or tar babies for a matter of fact and have never been any of those. You must immerse yourself in the character or study ones like that, or watch movies of people like that. If you can't even attempt it then you probably shouldn't write it.
 
No, it is not insulting. It is the writer's job, if that's what the character calls for.

However, you do run the risk of stereotyping if it is not done well. So really, it comes down to your skill as a writer.
 
NOT AT ALL.

But... SYMPATHIZE. Be the character and live the character in your mind. You're right, if you do not do it well or convincingly, you can come off as a huge phoney, wannabe or (fill in your favorite derogatory name here). If you feel less than confident about something, research it, ask questions of the genuine article if you have to, and be honest about your intentions and concerns just like you are in this question. You may easily offend somebody with the mere implication you are conducting anthropological research into the natural habitat of the lower classes but that is the risk you have to take. However, if you really want, you can find people that will consider it interesting and entertaining to advise you. I for one have anecdotal experience in both the middle and lower ends of class structures and I am not offended by this question. (I also allow email contact through Y/A and if you asked me interview question for research, I would answer your questions and consider the exercise interesting and entertianing.)

Furthermore, it didn't work out too bad for Dickens, did it?


EDIT ADD: (After reading other responses) Yes, be careful with phonetic writing. (In fact I might have entirely misinterpreted your question altogether as a context of attitude and perspective, as opposed to speech.) My personal experience: I write characters that speak in cliche Russian sounding accents (all vowels long, rolled 'r', all consonents hard, etc.). I dabbled early on with phonetic spelling and ultimately hated it then settled on making the protagonist simply comment on the accent through narrative and let the audience decide whether or not they want to go through the effort of enforcing it. However, I swap the conventional English orders of subject and predicate, verb and noun (the way Russo / Slav types do when learning English, and accept that as the best I can do. With minor characters that speak no more than a dozen lines, I will occasionally apply phonetics ranging from excessive for extraordinarily provincial colloquial speech to strategically deployed single words or phrases just to suggest an accent or affectation.

(Man! Am I longwinded, sorry.)

As far as major characters that speak throughout an entire story, I personally don't like the idea of phonetics and would really limit it to the infrequent exception, supported by the occasional narrative commentary.
 
It's hard to read. I'd go with using an occasional word or phrase to show someone of a different background.
 
I have that problem too. I don't want it to look like I'm looking down on them or anything.

My advice is not to overuse it. Don't write things like: ' 'ey urp! 'Ow y'bin pet?' otherwise it might look like a joke.

Maybe read Lady Chatterley's Lover and see what you think- or The Secret Garden.
 
it isn't insulting if it works. But if you try and fail, or fall into stereotypes, as you mention, then of course it could be seen as condescending. The only way to know is to try it, and get as many impartial readers as possible to give you honest opinions on how well you've done.
 
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