A great way to understand characters is to know their vocabulary and phrases. I like trying to do this with real people, not just characters in novels. For example…
- My dad says, “Whoever put this together kludged it.”
- My brother says, “I’m not too big on rice.”
- My other brother says, “I’m pretty sure I tried that.”
- (I say all three, copying them.)
Try listening for terms your friends and family repeat. It’s a fun way to learn what sets them apart from other people. If nothing else, once you learn their language, you can have fun impersonating them.
