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Writing With a Mute Character
Hi everyone! So, I've been brainstorming the plot for a book I want to write, and I finally started chapter one and ran right into an issue. My main character is mute, or at least, she speaks in sign language. I'm wondering how I should write conversations between her and other people. Should I put whatever she signs in italics? Should it be normal but instead of 'she said' it would be 'she signed'?
I'm also wondering if any of you have any information about the practice of unschooling. My main character in this same book might end up being unschooled, but I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about.
I also need some advice on picking a name for another of the characters in the book. He's a boy, he's a supporting character, and I've already decided on what I want his name to be... I only need to determine how to spell it. I'm debating between Crispen and Crispin. Both mean the same thing––'curly-haired'.
Thanks, guys!!
-Esile
submitted by Esile
(April 14, 2019 - 11:58 am)
(April 14, 2019 - 11:58 am)
In my experience, unschoolers are homeschoolers who take a lot of 'educational field trips' and things, like instead of doing school one day they'll go to the aquarium, the zoo, or the park (looking at plants! It's educational!)...Their bookwork is secondary to experience. (Experience is a necessary part of homeschooling, but when it's put before bookwork, learning in other areas can be stunted/slower.)
(April 21, 2019 - 4:32 pm)
Thanks, Micearenice! When unschooling is explained like that, it sounds almost like the way my homeschooling goes (Except I learn from books a lot too)! Thanks a ton!!
(April 21, 2019 - 9:08 pm)
Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the advice and explanations given so far!! It's all been super helpful. I have come to a realization about my story.
My character is not mute: She has Selective Mutisum. That's when someone who physically can speak chooses not to in certain situations, or is unable to speak in certain situations. For example, many kids with SM (Selective Mutisum) never speak at school or during social events, but are chatterboxes at home.
This might just be a random tidbit or randomness randominity (randominity... not sure if that's a real word or not) but it also might affect the way I write the way she signs. Anyway, thanks again and again and again!!!
-Esile
(April 21, 2019 - 9:19 pm)
Hey! I’ve thought of this before! This is an awesome Idea, I love reading about characters with disabilities!!
(April 22, 2019 - 10:18 am)
Me too! I think that books with disabled characters can be really interesting. It's also kind of hard for me to write because I have a hard time balancing their disability with the rest of the plot and keeping everything interesting and still accurate.
(April 23, 2019 - 10:03 am)