STEP 1: Prewriting—Listening to the Character
If you are writing about a real person, you have a responsibility to quote accurately.
If using a tape recorder is not possible, use the following guidelines. Make notes as
you listen:
- What^ is^ the^ person’s^ usual^ vocabulary?^ Does^ word^ choice^ suggest^ education^
or lack of it? Are certain words or phrases often repeated, such as actually,
generally speaking, or well, I declare? - Are^ the^ sentences^ short^ and^ choppy^ or^ moderately^ long?^ Does^ the^ person^
answer Yep instead of Yes, I think so? - What^ tone^ of^ voice^ does^ the^ speaker^ use?^ Does^ he^ or^ she^ shout,^ whisper,^ rasp,^
hiss, or whine? How would you describe the voice? - Does^ the^ character^ occasionally^ use^ poor^ grammar?
-^ Does the person drop word endings, saying walkin’ for walking or talk for talked? - Does^ pronunciation^ reflect^ a^ dialect^ (use^ words^ such^ as^ cain’t or musta for can’t^
or must have)?
-^ If the character is fictional, listen in your mind. Ask yourself the same questions,
and then make the speech pattern consistent with the character. For instance,
a well-educated character is not likely to use poor grammar, but an uneducated
character may not use poor grammar either. He may have learned by listening.
If you show evidence of the character having learned other things by listening, it
may be out of character for him to use poor grammar.
STEP 2: Prewriting—Watching the Character
Dialogue also includes description of mannerisms and other nonverbal means of
communication. As a result, as you listen, you must also watch. Make notes as you
ask yourself questions such as these:
- How^ does^ the^ character^ stand^ or^ sit?^ Does^ he^ or^ she^ slouch,^ lean^ on^ a^ cane,^
prop chin in hands? How else can you describe the character’s posture? - What^ does^ the^ character^ do^ with^ his^ or^ her^ hands?^ Does^ he^ jab^ the^ air^ with^
a pipe-filled fist; does she unceasingly rub her thumbs together or twist her
wedding band? - How^ can^ you^ describe^ the^ person’s^ eyes?^ Are^ they^ clear^ or^ cloudy,^ sparkling^ or^
dull? Do they pierce the listener or wander off into an undefined distance? - What^ visual^ evidence^ is^ there^ of^ facial^ reaction^ to^ comments?^ A^ frown,^ a^ fading^
dimple, a grin, a cocked head, a dropped jaw? - What^ visual^ evidence^ is^ there^ of^ other^ physical^ reaction^ to^ comments?^ A^ shifting^
of position, a crossed leg, folded arms, leaning forward?
If your character is fictional, think through these same questions. Maintain a descrip-
tion appropriate for—and consistent with—his or her personality.
178 / Types of Writing