Dialect & accent.

You may have mastered regular dialogue, but do you dare attempt to earn the “dialect & accent” merit badge?

Can you walk the fine line between authentic and insulting? Not be paralyzed by the possibility that a character will be unintentionally funny whenever they talk? Avoid tumbling down into the bottomless pit of distracting the reader so much they’re pulled out of the story?

Godspeed, y’all. Godspeed.

Part of the merit badges for writers series. The badge may be posted on your site or blog. Tell us why you’ve earned (or will never earn) it in the comments.