Monday, July 13, 2009

Text or Phone?

I'm having more fun sharing questions to ask our characters. Today's gem: do your main characters prefer to text message or talk on the phone?

I'm not a telephone talker, unless the caller is my sister, mother, mother-in-law, or sister-in-law. Or of course my gorgeous hubby. Everyone else I prefer to e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, even write an old-fashioned letter or card.

I think I have a deep-seated fear of miscommunication. When I write, I typically get my point across, but when I talk on the phone, I inevitably talk over or around the person, and struggle to pick up the correct clues. Or I pick up the right clues but interpret them wrong. Stressful!

But phone talkers are typically extroverts, so that might be a factor also. I'm socially successful but an introvert to the core.

Why think about your character's preference? Because it will color every reaction they have. Let's look at an extreme case.

If Donna's a social butterfly, her cell phone will be ringing left and right. Or if it's you write historical, Donna will have plenty of callers, and she won't turn any of them away.

Then there's poor Hank. He likes to text Donna, or e-mail her, or if in the case of a historical, write her letters. He gets frustrated at the constant activity around her. Plus, she never shuts up.

Maybe Hank enjoys listening to her. Maybe her chatter at warp speed distracts him? Does he have a hard time keeping up? Does he feel tired after an hour in her company?

And what about Donna? She likes conversation, not just talking. She loves the give and take, the spurts of giggles, the analyzing of every detail. Hank's so quiet, she has to fill in for him.

Maybe she finishes his sentences? Maybe she throws a fork at his head because he doesn't contribute? Maybe she thinks Hank is the perfect guy, if only he'd open up to her.

Think about this issue when your characters speak. Donna's words will tumble over each other and she'll have a lot to say. Hank will choose each word carefully, and he'll be concise.

What are your characters' preferences? If you have a hero who's glued to his job, you could add him constantly taking calls on his cell phone even though he's supposed to be on vacation. Or if your heroine dislikes conversing, you could show this by her clipped speech along with her penchant for spending hours in her room, writing letters.

Happy Writing!

23 comments:

  1. Oooh, awesome post! Definitely something for me to consider. :-)

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  2. I'm really enjoying these posts! I'm an extrovert, but don't usually talk on the phone a whole lot. Unless I'm in the right mood and it's somebody special. :)

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  3. Good morning!

    Jessica: Thanks! All of these tangents came to me when I wrote this--it's a topic with many things to consider. I didn't do it justice!

    Katie: An extrovert! Oh, the questions I want to ask you! You don't enjoy the phone, but do you prefer conversations in person? I love being out with other people, but I'm best with one or two.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Great question! I thought about this before because my MCs are teenagers, and we all know teens love to text. But they're also foster kids, who don't all have cells. So in the end they're forced to phone, whether they like it or not!

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  5. Confession: I'm a text virgin...never ever sent one.

    Hey, come collect an award on my blog! :D
    ~ Wendy

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  6. MeganRebekah: So their natural tendencies are thwarted by their lack of money? Genius!

    Wendy: Award? What? You're crazy! I'm coming over right now...
    (I've never sent a text either. My cell is pay-as-you-go and I'm cheap!)

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. I'm a TOTAL texter. Not that I'm an introvert. Just efficient. :)

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  8. talker...definitely. probably b/c i didn't get a texting package on my iphone b/c i have email on there!

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  9. I think I'd choose texting for my characters. It's fun, current, and gives a contemporary feel to the story.

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  10. Ooooh, that gave me so many ideas! I can see a lot from my characters in my WIP from how they communicate. My heroine is old fashioned. The hero has to help her set up e-mail and a website and figure out how to use it all for a business she's starting. So mostly she just talks on the phone to communicate or simply walks over to talk to someone. The hero is just in love with her more because of it but the heroine rolls her eyes every time he talks about e-mailing and websites and faxes.

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  11. What a cool topic. I never even thought about that before! Somehow, I'll have to modify this to fit my mythological Greek setting but...very interesting thing to consider. :-)

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  12. You are making me want to try my hand at writing a contemporary. There are so many cool ways to show character with modern technology!! Instead, I'm stuck with the boring letter writing with quill pens! And half my characters are illiterate anyway! I have to make them unique by thinking about something like how many months do they go before they decide to take a bath. :)

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  13. Jennifer: Oh, the whole text/talk thing wasn't meant to pigeon hole! Just to throw another twist in. So you text? And you're efficient? Wow! I can barely figure out the letters in a spelled out phone number so I'm in awe right now!

    Jeannie: Same here! I can see you'd be a talker. Your blog has a fun, chatty feel. We'd get along great!

    Joanne: You're right. It does shout "hip, up-to-the-minute" doesn't it? Okay, I'm feeling old... :)

    Cindy: Oh, yes! You have to expand that--what a great running gag! Perfect!

    Icy Roses: Welcome! Greek mythological setting...that does require some thought. But even cute girls in togas needed girl's night out, didn't they? I know you're cringing at my lack of Greek knowledge--it's okay--shake your head.

    Jody: Okay, just laughed out loud! Maybe your hero likes that musky, never-been-bathed scent? But he can only grunt his approval? Ha!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and making laugh everyone!

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  14. Ok, this is weird, but a lot of creative people I know would much rather send an email or do Facebook or whatever rather then get on the phone and make a phone call. I'm the same way! I can communicate MUCH better through my writing as opposed to talking!

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  15. Melissa: I know! I'm awful on the phone! E-mail is my lifeline!
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. Awesome post, as always. :) I'm like you. There are a select few (2) that I can talk to comfortably on the phone. Otherwise, I'm an email sort of person. One of my characters is a lot like that.

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  17. My characters don't really have access to either...oh wait...one talks on the phone...YAY

    But me...totally all text. I hate talking on the phone.

    (HAHAHAHA my verification word is "whedgi"....sorry, I'm a dork!)

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  18. I can't believe you are an introvert. No way!

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  19. Danyelle: Ahh...another kindred spirit!

    Marybeth: Your characters don't seem like they'd be texters or telephone talkers! Ha! And yeah, whedgi is funny!

    Terri: Shocking, isn't it?? But, yes, I need and enjoy lots and lots of time alone.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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