Writing Lister

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Sorry for posting so much on the group, but I have SO many questions.

So I'm still working on my "epic" and I've been going back and forth between writing Lister phonetically and not writing him phonetically. I want to be consistent throughout the fic and I can't decide which I prefer. Sometimes it just feels right writing Lister with an occasional dropped consonant and in' instead of ing. Other-times it feels... I dunno, forced? Maybe like I'm trying TOO hard to sound like Lister.

I know I've encountered both phonetic and non-phonetic Listers in my fanfic readings, and I was curious what everyone else thinks of it. Do you have a preference? Does it irritate you when you read, "smeggin' hell" instead of "smegging hell" or do you prefer it?

This has probably been discussed before, so I apologize if I'm dredging up a dead-horse to beat. :)

Comments

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

(Felineranger? Is this you by any chance?)
Ooh, I hadn't considered the non-British writers angle. That's really insightful.

I haven't personally come across fics that dumb Lister down, but I can definitely believe they exist, although I'd hate to think that anyone does it deliberately :( And it's awful that people level accusations like that at Craig...when you live and work pretty much only with people who don't have your accent, you're bound to lose some of it. That said, he probably does go to the occasional *looks around furtively* wine bar now ;)

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

Wash your mouth out!!! ;-)

(yes, that was me. I'm terrible at remembering to sign in when I comment).

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Precisely - people pick up the accents of those around them and it can work the other way too with upper-class people becoming more down-to-earth in the way they speak. I'm sure Craig's accent returns when he visits his relatives.