This week’s shows how fantasy authors Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman created unique characters through their word choices in Dragon Wing.
Video Transcript: Words are the link between the ethereal realm of our imaginations and the concrete reality of our books. So it’s no surprise that our choice of words is the single most important factor in our presentation of our stories. It’s also one of the toughest, since there are millions of words for us to choose from. Our ability to pick the right one is predicated upon, first, our knowing the word to start with; second, our being able to remember it; and, third, our understanding of what kind of word the particular tone of our novel calls for.
Our choice of words not only builds our individual authorial voices, it also influences the tone of each story and each character within that story. The more flexible we are in our choices and the more aware we are of how those choices will subtly, perhaps even unconsciously, guide our readers to the desired emotional and intellectual reaction, the more skilled we will be in weaving stories of depth and breadth. We can find a good example of this in the fantasy Dragon Wing
by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This book features two primary types of narrating characters, humans and dwarves, and the authors did a great job of giving both races unique voices through their choice of words. The dwarves, as a repressed and somewhat humorous society, were given according vocabularies. For example, their names for items were often simplistic and obvious terms, such as “whistle-toot” and “squawky-talk,” which, of course, provided a dramatic contrast to the more sophisticated humans and elves.
Humorous stories almost always encourage unique and unusual word choices. But, with a little more restraint, this rule of thumb holds just as fast for every other genre. When working on your story, look past the first word choice to appear on your screen and try to find ones that are not only original, but which will also reveal interesting and important facets of your story in general and each character in particular.
Tell me your opinion: How have you made your characters' voices unique?
Related Posts: Is Authorial Voice Different From Character Voice?
4 Tricks for Picking the Perfect Word
Do You Know How to Use Emphasis in Your WRITING?!
Video Transcript: Words are the link between the ethereal realm of our imaginations and the concrete reality of our books. So it’s no surprise that our choice of words is the single most important factor in our presentation of our stories. It’s also one of the toughest, since there are millions of words for us to choose from. Our ability to pick the right one is predicated upon, first, our knowing the word to start with; second, our being able to remember it; and, third, our understanding of what kind of word the particular tone of our novel calls for.
Our choice of words not only builds our individual authorial voices, it also influences the tone of each story and each character within that story. The more flexible we are in our choices and the more aware we are of how those choices will subtly, perhaps even unconsciously, guide our readers to the desired emotional and intellectual reaction, the more skilled we will be in weaving stories of depth and breadth. We can find a good example of this in the fantasy Dragon Wing
by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This book features two primary types of narrating characters, humans and dwarves, and the authors did a great job of giving both races unique voices through their choice of words. The dwarves, as a repressed and somewhat humorous society, were given according vocabularies. For example, their names for items were often simplistic and obvious terms, such as “whistle-toot” and “squawky-talk,” which, of course, provided a dramatic contrast to the more sophisticated humans and elves. Humorous stories almost always encourage unique and unusual word choices. But, with a little more restraint, this rule of thumb holds just as fast for every other genre. When working on your story, look past the first word choice to appear on your screen and try to find ones that are not only original, but which will also reveal interesting and important facets of your story in general and each character in particular.
Tell me your opinion: How have you made your characters' voices unique?
Related Posts: Is Authorial Voice Different From Character Voice?
4 Tricks for Picking the Perfect Word
Do You Know How to Use Emphasis in Your WRITING?!
. In some ways this example is better than anything we might find in fiction, since it focuses on the inherent charisma of a real personality, rather than that of technique. So let’s talk about a few of the reasons Winters is an enduringly compelling historical figure—and how we can apply those reasons to our fictional heroes.
: Know what you want to describe, but don’t know where to start? Use this themed dictionary to find appropriate descriptors and terms for everything from childbirth to castles.
: Aside from being a great flip-through manual for randomly picking character names, this book also allows authors to choose names by ethnic background, allowing you to pick the perfect name for your character.
: Keep that mess of cords under your desk in order by plugging them into this 4-socket surge protector and neatly enclosing them out of sight.
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: Aside from looking like a writer’s favorite thing—a beautiful leatherbound book—these clever boxes make for great storage (mine holds my secret stash of chocolate—ssh!).
: File your Writer’s Digest and The Writer subscriptions in style.
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: If the reader on your list has gone digital, help him protect his investment with a Kindle cover. My personal favorite is this one from Dura Gadget, since it offers protection, accessibility, and a built-in stand.
: Shelf space runs out quickly for avid readers. This nifty floating shelf isn’t just super cool, but also a space saver.
: For the writer on the go, a lap desk allows him to write comfortably from any chair anywhere.
: If you’re like me, your fingers turn to ice when typing for extended periods of time. Fingerless gloves allow you the tactile flexibility to interact with touch screens and pages, while staving off Jack Frost.
: Warn friends and family members that you’re hard at work imagining your next scene so they don’t run afoul of your flamethrower and machete!
: A classy leather journal is the go-to gift for writers when you don’t know what else to get. This one, especially if accompanied by a beautiful pen, is sure to please. (Or enter the 
: When writers apply the fundamental “butt-in-chair” rule, their posterior exteriors can end up taking the brunt of the daily damage. If you don’t have a padded chair, take matters into your own hands and pad it yourself.
