Vernacular spectacular-please help
Tags: advice,Challenges,Characters,Dialogue,Help Me Out,Newbie,Writing

I am a newcomer this site and to writing, so my questions is: how do you choose a talking style for your characters?

I am writing a book for young readers and it is set in a small, fictional kingdom. I tend to think of kingdoms as "way back when" because the monarchy system has fallen out of vogue. So I see my book as a (sort of) period piece and I want the vernacular to reflect that and be believable. However, if this is really going to be a kids book, how do I get that "not this day and age" feel without going over the kiddos' heads?

Try communicating with AC. She seems very well versed in the writing style and elements you mention.

http://www.reviewfuse.com/profile/AC/

I'm not sure what age you're talking about, elementary or middle school, but kids are smarter than you think. You don't have to dumb it down.

I think the main thing, though, would be the lack of slang or informality when speaking to adults. I imagine the kids in your story would be much more respectful to adults than some kids today. An entire conversation might change when an adult enters it. When kids are talking with other kids, there might be less contractions (can't, won't).

I don't know of any, but maybe you could find some books that are in a similar genre of yours and see what those authors are doing.

I realized I didn't really answer your question :-/ I've been reading Lord of the Rings and been thinking of some ways that writing has changed since the trilogy has been published. I think one way you can avoid going over their heads is too many big or uncommon words. I know I said not to underestimate them, but there are some old English words that wouldn't fit in children's books. Some of the ones I've found in the Lord of the Rings are dale, dike, flotsam - I actually had to look these up! Also, if you can find a way to keep conversation formal, but also not too long or boring, I think that would really help young readers.

I think, period piece of not, your characters should be relatable to kids in the 21st century. Maybe they don't have to go on a quest and save the world or overthrow an evil king, but kids have to deal with parents, growing up, falling in love, etc. So, even if they speak differently, kids should be able to see how they can relate to your character.

personal disclaimer: Don't get me wrong, I love the Lord of the Rings!

I would keep aware of Tolkien's theory of literary belief

The main issue would be to find a style you are comfortable with and not worry about whether it will be liked. Don't limit your audience to just "young" readers. Oftentimes children do not like when you treat them like children.

As for wording, look at Harry Potter and JK Rowlings use of the fantastic. She manages to create words that children have no problem interpretiing with their own imagination

One thing you could do to match contemporary wording with ancient/magical settings would be to give the narrator a modern voice, adding a metafictional element to your story, or inserting an "out of place" character to represent the modern child.

Emily I read LOTR when i was 10 years old, it didn't take away from the story surprisingly (as 1 could infer that flotsam was related to the spoils pippin and merry were finding etc etc). I was a nerdy kid though.