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Question: Need help with accents in writing!?
I'm writing a story where one of the characters is southern!. The problem is that I'm having trouble writing that accent!. Can anyone give me tips or a website that helps with this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Actually, "sugar" is more southern than "honey" although "hon" will work!. And we are more likely to say "Hell's bells" or Whoo-ee than shucks!. Other southern sayings would be liberal use of ain't, y'all, gonna, howdy, hey y'all, bye instead of goodbye, and them instead of those (as in Thars gold in them thar hills)!.

Bless yo' heart, or her heart or his heart, is another one often used!. This statement is often used to lessen the blow of a derogatory remark, as in, "She's so ugly, bless her heart!." A lot of us do drive pickup trucks and have porches!. Contrary to popular belief, we do not wear overalls unless actually plowing a field, we are not stupid, we do not marry our relatives, and we are fiercely protective of our families!.

I was born and raised and still live in south Alabama, so feel free to ask me anything!. The "stereotypical South" is far different from what most people believe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Honestly, I would not attempt to write your character's dialect!. Dialect writing is difficult and has fallen out of favor in the writing community!.

Write your character's dialogue normally, but you can use phrases peculiar to the American South to give readers an idea of how they sound- any character who says something like 'Shucks' or who calls females 'Honey' is going to strike me as Southern, and I'm going to hear their voice in my head with an accent!.

You can easily find common Southern idioms online, or watch an episode of Paula Deen's cooking show!. ; )Www@QuestionHome@Com