Home  Writing Fanfiction Essays and Articles Britpicking
by Azazello, Senior Admin of Sycophant Hex
11/5/04
Harry Potter Fanfic. Britpicking
What’s “Britpicking”?
In case you hadn’t realised, the Harry Potter universe is set in the United Kingdom, though there have been elements in canon which are not British: the foreign schools, and the Quidditch World Cup teams, for example. However, the majority of canon characters are British and the majority of canon action takes place in the UK. Generally, the majority of fanfic also takes place in the UK, and it is sometimes amusing for the British reader to see what non-Brits make of us.
That’s not a criticism by the way – before you start saying, “Who is she to criticise?” well, let me say, I would need a deal of help were I to write an original novel with American characters, set in America.
In short, we all need a bit of help from those in the know. A good many fanfic writers might choose to ignore this, reasoning that as the bulk of their readership are not Brits, then why bother? Indeed so. And as an admin on a fiction archive, and British to boot, I would not ever reject a story because it contained Americanisms. However, there are writers who want their story to be as authentic in tone as possible, and this article is for them.
Essentially, I am not going to list all the possible pitfalls for the non-British writer. I haven’t the time, and I cannot possibly list them all. It’s actually my view that no non-Brit will ever get a story 100% British, people with an ear for British English will rumble something sooner or later – even if it is just a nuance of emphasis in a speech. However, given that, it is possible for a non-British writer to get a really authentic sound to their fic.
Here is a list of resources where you can go for help.
First and foremost. Get a story beta-read – and that goes regardless to whether you want Britpicking to be important. Do not insult readers or archive admins by posting an un-beta-read story. There are also beta readers who will Britpick.
Beta readers can be recruited here:
Via Ashwinder:
http://ashwinder.sycophanthex.com/beta.php
OR:
http://www.perfectimagination.co.uk/index2.html
The above one lets you modify a search to include for Britpicking.
http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=18
This is the Fiction Alley Park forum for beta reading. You should read the advice and use the proper template before posting. Generally, I have got some very unreliable beta readers via this forum. However, on the plus side, some alpha readers have got ME. I am very reliable. I’m also picky, and a pain in the arse, but some you win, some you lose. The problem is, that many wannabee beta readers have no idea of the work involved and soon get tired/fed up/never realised that it might be a relationship of twenty odd chapters. Or more. The forums will put you in the way of a potential beta reader, they cannot be held responsible if that beta reader lets you down. Remember, it is a relationship, and sometimes relationships take work. And as in marriage, sometimes you need more than one try before you get it right…
General Briticisms forums:
“Where a jumper isn’t a dress” – a Fiction Alley Park Forum.
http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=125
“The WIKTT agony aunt”
http://autumnmist.homeip.net:81/Britishisms/
Both the above are question and answer forums.
Live Journal
The next one is a live journal community where you can ask specific questions, and members/watchers will post an answer. The main problem being that it is rare to get agreement (except where the matter is fairly straightforward) among fellow Brits. Class, locality, and accent can all make a huge difference among Brits. We are a small yet vocal country.
http://www.livejournal.com/community/hp_britglish/
I was advised when I opened this article for input/comment, on my own live journal, that the above lj community is a good place to start for seeking a britpicker if you want one.
You do not have to be an lj user to follow the threads, though you will need to be one in order to post. Or get a friend who has an lj to ask for you!
The Sugar Quill
There are a number of Britishness threads on the forums at the Sugar Quill:
http://www.sugarquill.net/forum/
All-round fanfic and fandom resources that can be helpful:
The Harry Potter Lexicon site should need no introduction to the keen fanfic writer. Bucket loads of information on all things Potter.
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html
This is a new(ish) site but seems to be a fantastic and well researched resource, not just about British matters, but one that all fanfic writers could bookmark.
http://www.geocities.com/alihotsy_resources/
On line dictionary type resources:
A Dictionary of British Slang (though first you would have to know what you are looking for)
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/
An American/British and British/American English Dictionary: Or why my to-mart-o is better than your tom-ay-to.
http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/
Cambridge Online Dictionary (very helpful when it's not a question of slang, but just wanting to know whether Brits use the same word)
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Best of British (another slang dictionary, though it's more helpful if you want to know the meaning of a British word, rather than wanting to find a British equivalent for an American word.
http://www.effingpot.com/
Book References:
Cassell's Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, by Nigel Rees.
Radio/TV
The programme “Quote/Unquote” is recommended if you can get it. That’s a radio broadcast.
Finally…
Lots of people took the trouble to feedback and pass on hints and tips of their own. It is much appreciated. This is a nice fandom community we have, you know! Many thanks to all who took such trouble to pass on wisdom and experience.
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