How do you check realism?

[Ann]

I realised when I was reading back some dialogue that I kinda do the voices and expressions of the characters. I must look like a compelte nutter in coffee shops.

But it helps me check the flow is correct. If I can't imagine someone saying it, I delete it.

Same with intense scenes. I try my best to put myself in the situation, how would I have reacted as a not very strong, lanky, female twenty something who is very stubborn? That way I can figure out how other people with other attributes might. Though, everyone is different of course.

How do you check realism in your novels?

[Mark]

For my particular series, which reflects so much of the settings from WW2, I had to immerse myself into several months of research in historical archives. It was quite enjoyable, though, and the notes and references that I recorded taught me much I didn't know.

[Ann]

Ooo that sounds interesting, harrowing at times though, I bet. I was lucky that my Grandad was around long enough to tell me all his stories. Some of the things he talked about when I was really young have only just started being talking about in media. I often wonder what else there is to learn in really obscure hidden sources.

[Claire]

I remember reading a tweet from an author saying that if you put in some facial expressions, you should check to see if they're possible. I can't remember exactly what she said but it was something like scrunching up eyes and raising your eyebrows at the same time, which is impossible.

[Ann]

Oh that made me laugh out loud! I wonder how many people will attempt that after reading it :p

[G.G.]

lol I DID! /blush

[Ann]

lol :p

[Harmony]

Try it in a coffee shop! :) The best editing is done by reading what you've written aloud - all of it, not just the dialogue. As Bisky says though, be prepared for some funny looks!

[Michael]

Linda and I read back the draft to each other out loud. It's an invaluable tool. We do it at home so only the dogs look at us funny.

[Carl]

I one rearranged furniture in a coffee shop to block out a complicated scene. The place held more characters than customers.

[Ann]

@Michael nothing worse than a judging doggie stare!

@Carl LOL the staff wanted to tell you to leave, but then remembered all the coffee you bought :P

[Carl]

Bisky: yes, LOL! I typically pay one worker's wage for more than an hour.

[J. David]

I frequently act out motions, say dialogue to myself, etc etc. Yes you look crazy but sometimes just that little act will enable you to correct a sticky bit of dialogue that didn't work or figure out the way to write a motion you see the character making.

[J]

Several English teachers I've had in college stress reading your words aloud. :3

I very seldom read anything aloud, though, but I ought to try. My protagonist is female, so it kind of funny imagining reading her words aloud. xD Maybe I can find a lady friend to read important dialogue quotes to see how they sound?

[H.C.]

I love to see dialogue being taken seriously! One of my pet-hates is when plot/story is explained through dialogue, eugh! Loses all sense of reality.

[G.G.]

Hmm yeah I agree. Nothing like a dialogue between parents sounding this way.

"Hun, I let Annie, our eldest with the long silky hair, sleep at her friend's house for the night."

As if the father wouldn't know who Annie is.

[Ann]

Rofl :p

[Carl]

Josh, reading aloud is key. Ask Tolkien.

Um...

[Ann]

Did you drop your dog on its head? That would make it more authentic

[Michael]

I once lay on the hard wood floor and acted out trying to roll to safety with my hands tied behind my back. (Er, that sounded kinkier than I meant. I didn't actually tie my hands.) I realized my character was going to wince as he rolled over his finger bones and probably hurt his back in the bargain...

[Carl]

Michael, lol.

[G.G.]

@Michael That's when I would love to be a fly on the wall :P

[Michael]

G.G.: And a good thing too. If you'd been a fly on my floor you'd have been squished.

[G.G.]

Hey now!! what did I do to you besides wanting to have a good laugh at your 'experiment'?! :P

[Michael]

GG: Just wanna make sure you know I wasn't saying something mean. I was joking that if you'd been a fly on the floor instead of the wall, you'd have been squished by a crazy man - er, dedicated writer - rolling around.

[G.G.]

LOL I hadn't caught that you had changed the wall for the FLOOR, but don't worry, I knew you were joking either way. :)

I still would have liked to see that, floor or wall. /ducks

[Michael]

Next time I do something weird in the process of writing a story, I should video it and put it on my website. It can be like the Behind the Scenes extra videos on a DVD. :-)

[Ann]

._.

Lol Michael I dunno what to say to that.

Maybe I need to go run through the forest with a Katana just to makesure my MC doesn't cut off her leg.

[G.G.]

Maybe it would up the sales :P

[Kamil]

G.G. wrote: "Hmm yeah I agree. Nothing like a dialogue between parents sounding this way.

"Hun, I let Annie, our eldest with the long silky hair, sleep at her friend's house for the night."

As if the father ..."

what if the father was focused on the newspaper and he needed a reminder of who Annie is?

[G.G.]

I guess you're right. It can always be used in a sarcastic way. :)

[Kevin]

Reading dialogue out loud is important.

I also try to give main characters phrases they use time and time again. It helps me keep them apart and I feel it's more realistic. People are often pretty repetitive. Without repeated certain phrases, I tend to make my characters all talk like me, so this helps me avoid that pitfall. And it helps readers identify characters by their dialogue alone. People talk differently. Though this might be a simplistic ploy (the way people talk is much more complex than a few varying phrases), it seems to work.

[Harmony]

I haven't gone as far as acting out yet, but it sure sounds like loads of fun - lol :D

[Janna G. Noelle]

@Michael: I love your Behind the Scenes video idea :)

@Bisky: You running through the forest with a katana would make a great video. Probably a great workout too!

[Janna G. Noelle]

@Michael: I was once trying (with middling success) to choreograph a fight scene by myself when a friend called me to make plans for the next day. When she offered to help me tomorrow if I was unable to figure it out that night, I warned her that would involve me twisting her arm behind her back. Lucky for her (and me, but mostly her), I figured it out that night.

[Ann]

@Janna I'm still figuring out exactly what to do for a book trailer xP

I fear I'm far too clumsy for that though :x

[Michael]

Kevin: yes, I also have to watch out or all my chars talk like me. I usually have a specific person's voice in my head. I mean a real-life person I know or remember. My character Lavinia is based on a New Yorker I knew years ago and I still remember some of her speech patterns. (Lavinia uses the eff word more than any of my other chars, eg.)

[Michael]

Janna: glad to hear your friend still has a functional arm (grin).

Bisky: wear your bunny hat if you go for it.

[Ann]

Oh oh, but my book doesn't have bunny hats in it :x

[Kamil]

Bisky wrote: "Oh oh, but my book doesn't have bunny hats in it :x"

and whose fault it is?

[David]

Reading out loud is a useful tool with out a doubt. When I have a chapter written I will print it out then sit in my living room with a cup of coffee and read out loud.
I find that giving myself a little space from the computer, then reading the work allows me to immerse myself in the story as a reader would.
I haven't tried the coffee shop reading yet. I wonder if they would kick me out of Starbucks on a Sunday morning?

[Kamil]

I have a problem with realism when it comes to axe fighting; people get chopped limb-a-part

[G.G.]

Bisky wrote: "@Janna I'm still figuring out exactly what to do for a book trailer xP

I fear I'm far too clumsy for that though :x"

Bah, run with a fake one. At least, you won't hurt yourself too much. :P

[David]

Kamil wrote: "I have a problem with realism when it comes to axe fighting; people get chopped limb-a-part"
common sense must prevail, one would hope. LOL