Happy Christmas!
Merry Holidays!
This time of year is ripe for holiday cheer, and also for people who go ballistic about the way other people offer holiday greetings. Happy Christmas, for example, is what my mother-in-law always says. She’s from London. I don’t tell her “say Merry!” and she doesn’t tell me “in my house, say Happy!” We’re both cool with the other person’s traditions. (I’ve totally adopted the Christmas cracker, funny hat thing, though.)
Now, if I were to write a novel with a Christmas scene I’d consider this. How easy would it be to slip in “Happy Christmas” to show (not tell!) the audience that my character isn’t from America? Or at least isn’t from the Merry Christmas America we’re all used to.
As people are sprinting around gathering their foods and gifts, listen to them. Take in what the woman calls her frying pan (skillet, perhaps?), or the way that a man orders soda (pop? Coke?). Every area has its own voice—sometimes the differences between that voice and a voice we’re used to is HUGE. (I still have trouble understanding my Welsh father-in-law from time to time. Especially if there have already been a few pints of Guinness and a G & T or two.) Sometimes a place’s voice is so familiar to us that we don’t notice it at all, and it takes someone else pointing it out.
For example. Saturday Night Live, back when Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig were on, used to do a skit called “the Californians.” It mocked the west coast pretty hard. All the characters talk about the traffic—no matter what else comes up. Characters said things like “I’d take the 5 to the 405.” People found it hysterical. I thought, sure, they’re funny. But are they THAT funny? Then I realized the joke. Apparently, outside of California, people don’t use articles with their highways. Here in NC, it is 40 not THE 40. I had a verbal tic that told people where I was from (California) without even realizing it.
Small details like this can reveal a lot about your characters without you ever having to use a single adjective, let alone an info dump.
So, this Holiday season, while you’re celebrating with others, perhaps take a moment to think about what makes these people sound and look familiar. Then think of ways to incorporate that element, or elements like it, into your characters.
Happy Holidays to you all!
