Mr. SnoopDog, break down this wall....

[SnoopDog]

...the language-barrier that is.

I need some serious help/advice/suggestions from the ever so sophisticated Lit community.

I'm pretty sure with the international crowd that we have here there must be quite a number of people who speak more than one language. And amongst them there must be writers that are able and actually do write stories in a language that isn't their native.

The question is: How do you go about starting writing in a language that you had to learn?

I think my command of english is at a level that should suffice to write stories in it. I have written papers etc. in english and always earned quite some praise for my use of it (yeah, I know I know, the gazillion typos in my posts run against this, anyways....). Yet, applying the unlimited intricacies of a spoken language, of idioms, of colloquial language, of special vocabulary in writing a story just gives me the creeps. I feel like I won't be able to do it.

Yet, in order to actually get some readers online, I really want to try it and write a story in english.

So, you guys n girls that have done it (in whatever language), how did you go about it? How did you get started? What pitfalls did you experience? Did you get some help from a native? Did you write or translate? What did you do?
And of course, what where the results and the feedback like?

Just gime a couple of hints, will ya?

Thanks so much.



Snoopy, woof-woof

 

[fieryjen]

Reading lots of English language stories is really the most important thing, I've found. Read, read, read and read more. Did I mention reading?

I did not translate. If your school English is still pretty good, I wouldn't recommend translating. It just adds one huge, cumbersome process that you should skip if possible, and the result may end up clumsy.

Oftentimes, words pop into my mind that I've heard before in some context and that I think might fit, but I'm not a hundred percent sure what the word actually means. I usually have dictionary.com open just to check on the meaning of those words and they often do fit very well. It's a practice that I would recommend.

I did get an editor for most of my stories, to pick out the really egregious mistakes. They weren't perfect after that, but good enough to post in good conscience, and the feedback was pretty good, for the most part. I actually deleted any mention of not being a native speaker from my profile, because I got so sick of comments that said in essence "That story was pretty good for English being your second language".

So... I do hope that helps a little.

 

[Liar]

I find it almost easier to write fiction in English then in my native Swedish. A ceratin disconnect to the language means I dare to play around with it more. Use words and phrases as tinker toys and do creative things to them that I wouldn't come up with if I wrote in the language of my own thoughts.

 

[3113]

Snoopy, woof-woof

Snoopy!

POUNCE!

You ole' dog, where have you been? Are you a full-fledged linguistic professional now?

As for your question, don't give it a second thought:

(1) You already write like a native, at least your posts read that way.
(2) If you make mistakes in writing you can catch them and change them in editing--just get yourself a native speaking editor. That's legit you know. If you were speaking the language you might be in trouble as you can't take back or change the mistake once it's out of your mouth, but on the page, you get lots of chances to catch and change it before it's read by others.
(3) Even we native speakers blow it when it comes to idioms because they vary place to place. So long as you keep the place vague, you're golden. So avoid creating characters from a particular place. If your girl is from Anywhere, U.S.A., then you won't get comments like: "A girl from Alabama would never say that!"
(4) If the girl must be from Alabama, research Alabama idioms, watch U-Tube video with people from Alabama talking to each other, and get an editor who lives in Alabama to go over the finished work.

Go for it, Snoop! You're ready.

 

[fieryjen]

I find it almost easier to write fiction in English then in my native Swedish. A ceratin disconnect to the language means I dare to play around with it more. Use words and phrases as tinker toys and do creative things to them that I wouldn't come up with if I wrote in the language of my own thoughts.

Oh, that's a great way to put it!

 

[3113]

I find it almost easier to write fiction in English then in my native Swedish. A ceratin disconnect to the language means I dare to play around with it more. Use words and phrases as tinker toys and do creative things to them that I wouldn't come up with if I wrote in the language of my own thoughts.

Hmmm. You know, it occurs to me, Liar, that I've never "heard" you "speak" in your native tongue here (yes, yes, technically I haven't heard any one here speak, just read what they've written, however)....

Say something sexy to me in Swedish, you Nordic squirrel you!

 

[Xelebes]

Also, don't be afraid to keep writing in German. Stick with a healthy mix of both languages.

 

[oggbashan]

The question is: How do you go about starting writing in a language that you had to learn?

The same as writing in your own language:

Do it. See how it works out. Do it again, and again until you think you are perfect at it...

...by which time you'll be dead because you'll never be perfect in your own estimation.

Og

 

[Xelebes]

...by which time you'll be dead because you'll never be perfect in your own estimation.

Og

Unless you suffer from Golden Word Syndrome.

 

[SnoopDog]

Snoopy!

POUNCE!

You ole' dog, where have you been? Are you a full-fledged linguistic professional now?


Go for it, Snoop! You're ready.

Hi there,

I've been away for quite some time. Just recently getting back to be part of Lit some more. Like a second attempt, you know. =)

I wish I were a professional linguist now, I'd be actually making some money.

=)



Snoopy

 

[SnoopDog]

Hey guys n girls,

I should make clear that i'm in no way a professional yet when it comes to writing. So I really do have no editor and first of all, no intention to publish anything for real - Lit should suffice first.

Yet, I still feel awkward b/c I think that if I ever want any real attention, my first attempt should already be a decent one.

I might find some people who'll edit, but I don't want those to necesaarily read stories of me that are ... well ... in the adult department.

Do you think it'll still be possible to be read - even though "only" on Lit - if your first submissions really suck?




Snoopy

 

[Liar]

I wish I were a professional linguist now, I'd be actually making some money.

I'd settle for being a cunning one. There's money in that too. Or so I've heard.

 

[cloudy]

(4) If the girl must be from Alabama, research Alabama idioms, watch U-Tube video with people from Alabama talking to each other

or, even easier, PM Cloudy and ask her.