Workshop: Faking It: Pretending You're A US Citizen When You're An Ocean Away
Hi! We're legoline and benitle and we're your hosts for this month's workshop:
Faking It: Pretending You're A US Citizen When You're An Ocean Away (language barriers and a lot more)
Even though Supernatural is a show based on two US American brothers, it is admired and loved by people from all over the world. From Day 01, fandom has been a global community, with the internet making it easy to access the show and fellow fen from anywhere in the world. It doesn't come as a surprise that it's not just the US American portion of fandom contributing through fanfiction. While it might be the ESLs (English as a Second Language speakers) who have it the hardest, it's not only them who might struggle with one major factor: not being American.
Why does this even matter?
Supernatural deals not only with two brothers fighting heaven and hell, it also deals with a country and its culture. In some ways, Supernatural is one of the most "American" shows out there, because unlike the majority of other shows, it is not restricted to a specific town, or city building, or even room (for instance, like a sitcom). In traveling through the Midwest and the small towns, and via literally using the backroads of the US, Supernatural is as American as it gets. Urban legends, myths and folklore have always been important aspects of the show. And even though most fanfiction writers research these things (US Americans or not), there are a lot of other things a writer can do wrong. Whether they mean to or not. Getting a small detail wrong is certainly not the end of the world, but ultimately, it might be the little things that throw your readers out of your fic or make it sound off. (Note: there's obviously absolutely nothing wrong with not being an US American and it should never stop you from writing fanfiction. But for the sake of writing fanfiction that is as authentic as it possibly can be, we're going to look at the details you might have to pay extra attention to, only because they might be different from what you know.)
In the following we'd like to give you an overview of a range of things that might give you away as an non-American and that might ruin the flow of your fic for any readers that are US Americans/very familiar with the USA.
I. The devil is in the details
As we said, often it's going to be the little things, the details, that give you away. Things that you don't even really think about because you're just so used to them the way they are. You're not necessarily going to remember that they're different in other countries. This can be tricky. Because while you're most likely are going to research urban legends, you're not really going to research what driving in the USA is like or what the typical foods on the menu of a diner are. Simply because it's not on your agenda as something you need to read more about before you start writing fic. And most of the time this is perfectly fine! Only because you're not going to research meticulously down to the tiniest of details doesn't mean you're automatically going to get them all wrong.
If you're unsure though, maybe you should take the few minutes it takes to verify that you're right (or find out that you're wrong and correct your mistakes, either way). We've compiled a list of various examples and tried to cluster them into different categories. We're aware that not all categories are going to apply to your fic every time. We'd like to see it as a general guideline for things to check when you write. Please view this as a resource you can come back to in the future if you need to. This list is by no means complete.
Geography, climate, and environment
The USA are a huge country. In fact, unless you live in Russia, Canada (or China), the USA is going to be a bigger country than yours. A US American's sense for distance might be very different from your own. For example, to most Europeans one hour is a long drive, whereas for some US Americans, it's their daily commute to work. As already hinted at, part of that results in the sheer vastness of the country. Because there is so much space, it would be impossible to connect all places to public transport. The very few cities that have a good public transport system are those confined to a limited area where space is valuable, like San Francisco or Manhattan. In Los Angeles however, it can easily take over and hour to get to Santa Monica via the bus, and a good fifteen-minute walk to get to the next bus station. In other words: there's a lot of ground to cover, hence why the perception of distance might differ from, say, the European one. While you may not necessarily have your characters use buses and other forms of public transport, it's certainly good to keep in mind that the distances in the USA are quite unlike from anything you get in Europe (to keep with that continent). If your character does take the bus? In some cities, bus drivers don't give change.
Familiarize yourself with basic geography! You don't need to know each state and their cities/population to the smallest detail, but should have a general feeling for where which state is. For example, Alaska is not bordering any other US states, you can't drive from Philly to LA in 20 hours. Even though there is a West Virgina, there's no East Virgina and even though Kansas and Arkansas are close, they don't share a direct border. A lot of these things are common knowledge. But in case you're unsure, Google Maps is a quick way to look it up.
Wikipedia is a great source to get a basic idea of what flora and fauna you may encounter in a certain state, as well as other tidbits of useful information. (legoline, for one, learned that there had never been as much gold mining in Montana as she'd always imagined). Also, approach movie pictures set in certain states with caution. It's not uncommon for a director to have their films shot in a place that looks the part, but really isn't. "Brokeback Mountain" for example, which lives of its scenic landscape, was filmed in Canada - the same goes for Supernatural as you surely know! Personal travel websites tend to be helpful and more reliable. There are plenty of globetrotters out there who happily upload their photos and share their experiences of their visit!
People & culture
One of the most important assets of a country is its people and their culture. If you write Supernatural fic, obviously, you'd also want to familiarize yourself with what kinds of people Sam and Dean come in contact with on a day-to-day basis. Try to get a general understanding of customs, national holidays, history and ethnicity.
Days like Columbus Day, Black Friday, Veterans Day, Independence Day, President's Day or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day might not be celebrated in your country. Or - some days you celebrate might be celebrated on a different day in the US. Labor Day in Germany is always on May 1st. In the US, it's the first Monday in September. Familiarize yourself with traditions, typical meals and conditions too! If Thanksgiving is somewhat important to your fic, your protagonists will most likely not sit at the table in shorts, short-sleeved shirts and flip flops because it doesn't tend to be warm on Thanksgiving. (And since there are exceptions to everything they even might, depending on where they live.)
If native American culture plays a major part in your fic (think Bugs of season 1), you might want to research North American Native tribes and which tribes lived where to make sure you're getting the settings right.
With the Impala being almost being one of the main characters of the show, driving has always played an important role in Supernatural fic. One would think that driving is just driving, and that there are no traps there. But even something as simple as driving a car comes with its own unique traits. While it's widely known that American cars drive on the right side of the road and most of them are automatic ones rather than manuals, other differences might be not quite so obvious. In some areas parking metres only accept quarters, traffic lights are on the other side of the intersection (after the intersection, not before like in Europe) and if there are no signs at an intersection, the cars go in the order they arrived. At least in California, parking zones are marked in different colours at the curb, and you don't take the highway/freeway headed to "San Francisco" but plainly the "CA-1" going "north/south" or "west/east". In general, driving in the US is fairly relaxed, roads and parking garages are bigger and smaller cars are rare (given by how much time you spend in a car in the US, that's not surprising). Most of these things you can learn by either asking around or researching online. Again, while you may not always give a detailed account of Sam or Dean driving, it's good to keep these things in mind. If you want Sam to bicker about Dean not paying attention to the traffic rules, it's certainly an advantage to have a rough idea of the rules Dean may be ignoring. Likewise, if you have Bela use the "tow-away zone" trick again, knowing what indicates such a zone is helpful as well.
Even if your fanfic isn't a casefic heavily based on historic events, it's still good to know some basic history. The pilgrims arrived at the East coast and today's territory of the USA used to be British, French and Spanish colonies. To have a basic idea of the mentality of the people and the events that shaped it, you should read into the history a bit if you haven't already. As previously mentioned, the same goes for the big national holidays like Thanksgiving or Halloween. To get a profounder understanding about what makes them so special, read into the history of the holidays. Wikipedia is always a good way to get you started. Another fantastic way to get a feeling for, say Thanksgiving, is to ask your flisters about how their Thanksgiving is usually celebrated, what foods they have etc. These "first hand accounts" may give your fanfic that extra touch of "familiarity" that gets it just right.
Speaking of Thanksgiving leads us to local dishes and beverages. They're closely tied to people. In fact, they are part of a country's culture. Including national dishes and beverages are a great way to give your fic a nice, authentic touch. Obviously, you don't need to memorize detailed menus of diners, but since Sam and Dean spend their fare share of time eating diner food, it helps knowing what's typical and what not. We're safe to assume that Sam and Dean aren't necessarily the type of people to try international specialities, mostly because they might simply not have access to them. Haggis is unlikely to be on the list of things Sam and Dean have ever tried. However, if you know of regional specialities of the USA, don't be scared to include them! With eating so much diner food, Sam and Dean certainly will be grateful for a bit of variety if they can get it. (Dean certainly would appreciate a Philly Cheesesteak!) Obviously, the same goes for drinks.
Speaking of food, most people in the US wouldn't order water at a restaurant. You receive tap water for free.
Educational System
In this particular case, it is usually most helpful to read into the educational system and then ask your friends/flist if you have specific questions. While the system of high school is not that hard to understand, as soon as a character enters college things tend to get confusing. There are colleges and undergraduate classes and majors and minors, and it gets really tricky if you want your character to enter a specific college or university, or have him take specific classes. Students have to apply for colleges and grad schools, and financing a college is often an issue (hence John's comment about how he started a savings account for college on the day Dean was born). In this particular case, the easiest and most reliable way might be to simply ask your flist for help. Ask about what requirements need to be met to be allowed to enter college, ask about dorm and class experiences. If you pick a specific college or university, make the effort to visit the website. It may give you an idea of the college's priorities, size and layout. If you get the chance to visit San Francisco--it's only a 30 minute drive to Palo Alto. Take your camera and visit the campus. Visit the bookshop, the food court and find the law school. Sit down for a moment and take in the atmosphere of Stanford. Try to picture Sam and/or Dean in those places. It'll do wonders.
Social Security System
Another system you most probably will have to familiarize yourself with is the Social Security system (equivalent to National Insurance in the UK, for example). It can be incredibly confusing and vastly different from what you're used to. No one expects you to be an expert on these things. Often it's already scary enough to understand your own country's system! But basic knowledge might come in handy.
You might ask yourself why you should care about retirement ages when Sam and Dean don't have a "real" job to retire from. What if you're writing a curtain fic where Sam and Dean settle down and take regular day jobs? Is Dean likely to still work at a garage at the age of 60, 65 or 70? If the information isn't necessary for Sam and Dean, it might make the original character you're creating more realistic. Will your OMC be able to have a "freak accident" at a construction site at the previously mentioned ages or do you need to make him younger? Just like in Germany, the retirement age is 67 - though there are rules for exceptions. But unlike in Germany, it is not uncommon in the US for employees to continue working after that age.
Other components of the Social Security system are unemployment benefits, temporary assistance for needy families and health care. With the constant danger Sam and Dean are in, it's likely that they end up in hospital regularly. Potentially, health care is the part of the Social Security System that you will need knowledge for the most when you write fic. Unlike in Germany, for example, where every citizen has access to health insurance with aid of the government if necessary (in theory), the US system works differently. If you can't afford private health insurance, that's your problem. The US health care system is based a lot more on the private sector. Even though there are some state programs (like Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Veterans Health Administration), the largest part of all insurance holders are insured through some private insurance company. For example, in 2007 about 15% of US Americans did not have health insurance.
We've seen the Winchesters deal with health insurance in the past, so it's definitely been an issue in canon. Remember Elroy McGillicuddy and his two loving sons?
It's not just the health insurance that might be different from what you know. There are non-profit hospitals, privately owned for-profit hospitals as well as government hospitals in the US. Depending on which kind of hospital you're taking Sam and Dean to (and maybe also depending on the state!), the questions asked and the procedures might be different. Same goes for first responders like EMTs. Imagine an AU where Jensen works as a paramedic; the roles, responsibilities and medical training of paramedics might be vastly different from what you're familiar with.
The fact that the current US Government is debating a reform of the health care system doesn't make it easier to understand what's going on. A good idea is to refresh your memory every once in a while and to consult your friends for localized knowledge.
Metrics
If you're from say, Germany, remember that all (or most) metrics are different from the ones used in the US. You buy gas in gallons, not liters, you drive m/ph (miles per hour) and then there's that thing about inches, feet, yards and miles. Don't forget about the ounces and pounds! You don't need to learn these by heart--a list that helps calculating will do--but this is one of the things that will easily throw a reader off because they are so common in daily life. Just keep in mind that metrics are generally different, and to double-check before you write "liter" or "meter".
Other everyday life and the little things
As the title of this workshop states, the devil's in the details. There are seemingly tons of tiny things in everyday life that form traps for the non-American fanfiction writer. Doors have knobs, not handles, you tend to pay before you refill the tank, credit cards are widely accepted, even if you get a coffee from the coffee shop around the corner. You seemingly tip everyone (the hairdresser, the waiter, the guy who helps you with the luggage on the train) and while we're at the issue of money, if you pay in cash you're most likely to pay in bills and not coins. The correct response to "Have a nice day" is "You, too" and it's not unlikely for a waiter to ask if you want your burger well-done or medium. (Contrary to many parts of Europe where a burger is simply a burger and something you tend to get at fast food chains, not a diner.) These are the things you usually don't think about when you write, but that'll probably stand out to an US citizen instantly when done wrong.
This section may be the trickiest, because how do you do research on such small cultural things? The bad news first: there is no way to learn all the cultural differences, unless you migrate to the US and even then it's doubtful you'd get a hang of all of them. But, that doesn't mean you can't get better at noticing them. The key for that is to watch films/shows and read books more consciously. What's the typical layout of a house? (Or how is it presented on TV anyway?) What do the windows look like? How are windows locked? What appears to be the usual furnishing of a kitchen? What are usual gestures you don't typically see in your home country? (Like the tipping against one's nose, or the way beer is ordered by hiding up by the three middle fingers)
Another good way is to tell your beta readers to look out for these things (naturally, it makes the most sense to get a US citizen as a beta for this task). Nudge them to be nitpicky, and to point out anything that doesn't ring "American" or out of place to them. You'll be surprised what your betas will point out! After a while, you'll start remembering some of the things too.
Finally, once again, don't be shy to ask your flist about details, even if it's questions like "If Sam and Dean would live in an apartment, would their kitchen come with a waste grinder or not?" Your flist will most probably be happy to help you out!
Language
There's been lots of discussion in Supernatural fandom about whether fic needs to be written in American English in order to be "correct". There have been calls for fanfiction to be "Ameripicked" (similar to the call in Harry Potter fandom to have fics "Britpicked"). Others argue that even if it's British English, it's still grammatically correct (given of course that whichever English you write in, it is not full of spelling mistakes and its friends).
We're not here to make that decision for anybody. However, in the scope of this workshop, we wanted to address language as a factor that can easily give you away as a non-US-American.
The differences start with something as minor as spelling. We're sure that everybody's familiar with the classics such as color as opposed to colour, realize vs. realise or even things such as check vs. cheque. Contractions are another commonly known difference between AE and BE. Americans tend to get lazy when they speak and are more likely to shorten wherever they can. For example, in dialogue, Dean rather says "You better take care of that car. Or, I swear, I'll haunt your ass." (Faith, 1x12) than "I will haunt your ass."
Dialogue is actually a very good point. While you can argue that it doesn't really make a difference whether it's realize or realise, it does get tricky if we're talking about dialogue and the fact that some terms are simply different in AE and BE. These are little things you definitely should pay attention to! For example, Dean wouldn't tell Sam to get the shotgun from the "boot", he'd call it the "trunk". Using the wrong terms can make your characters sound out of character.
A few more examples are: waiting in line instead of queuing, apartment instead of flat, gas instead of petrol. The list is sheer endless! Of course, that's not enough. Sometimes, the same word will have a different meaning in the US from what you're used to. It makes things even more complicated because you think you're using the word right, whereas in fact, you aren't! An US American will think of something different when saying "football" than a Brit. Pie in the US is the sweet stuff Dean loves so much, whereas in New Zealand, it's mostly more savory (for example filled with mince, mince and cheese, steak or chicken).
And! Wait for it, just like in every country, there are also regional differences. Someone from Texas might order a coke, their friend from the Southeast will ask for a soda and the person from the Midwest wants a pop. In the end, they're all after the same thing. Finding the right word can be a hard and daunting task. Not only if you're writing in a foreign language.
There are some great resources out there that will help you get this right and it's definitely not impossible. So don't be afraid to use these resources! One thing we'd like to point out in particular is clex_monkie89's workshop on How to Write Natural Dialogue and Brotherly Banter and Make It Sound American and the resources linked from there.
II. How to avoid those traps
Now that we've looked at a wide range of things that can give you away as a non-American, we'd like to give you a few tips on how to avoid making those mistakes.
Keep your eyes open
You can avoid a lot of mistakes by simply keeping your eyes open. Look out for the little things when you watch TV. Not just Supernatural but also the other shows that you might watch.
High school/college-based shows like Glee or Freaks & Geeks will give you a first impression of how the educational system works and where you need to do some further reading. If you're into shows like Criminal Minds, CSI or various police shows you can get a feeling for law enforcement (which might come in handy if you're writing a fic from Henriksen's POV about chasing the Winchesters). If you're willing to invest the money, there are plenty of textbooks about Criminal Investigation that show and explain various techniques of interrogation etc. to students of criminal science. These books are usually very expensive, but it's worth keeping an eye on Amazon marketplace or eBay - sometimes they pop up there for a few Dollars or Euros. For your standard "Dean gets caught by FBI agent" fanfic, that kind of research may not be necessary, but if you're writing from Henriksen's POV, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with techniques used in the USA.
But it's not just about procedures. Someone cooking in any show can give you a feeling about American cuisine and how preparing meals is done differently from your country. Maybe the entire layout of the kitchen is different from what you're used to (fridges are bigger, you don't have fridge/freezer combos, no kitchen islands, etc.) Seeing how someone does the laundry can tell you that top loaders are far more popular in the US than Europe (where people mostly use front loaders). The possibilities are sheer endless and by simply watching out for the little things, you can learn a lot!
Even better though, if you have the chance to travel to the USA. If you're going on a trip anyway, make sure to pack your camera and take pictures to preserve the impressions and memories for later. While you're there, use the time to get an understanding of the country and its people. You can get a feeling for the weather and climate, classical foods on restaurants' menus, typical stores and what they sell and so much more. Even more, be observing and watch yourself. The tiny bits that make you frown and stop for a moment--like the use of credit cards, the locks that work differently, the fact that you tip next to everybody--are usually the things that you get wrong in writing simply because they seem as a given to you. You don't have to note them all down (you can of course, if you want to) but consciously looking out for these things already helps. When you write your story, and you've been to the US, take a moment to reminiscent. What did you have for breakfast? What did the cars look like? In what ways did the citizens of the US strike you different from the people from your own country? Really, traveling or spending some time in the US are the best - if sadly also most expensive - way to learn and understand the country.
Question fic clichés and stereotypes
Another source for mistakes is that occasionally wrong information is simply passed on from one person to the other. Only because you read a tidbit about a country, state, city in a fic doesn't necessarily mean it's true. So please, don't take everything you can find for granted, especially if it's stereotypes. Without knowing better, authors sometimes get these wrong and generalize where they clearly shouldn't. A previously common theme (especially in RPS) was that Texas often was portrayed as an incredibly homophobic state - a stereotype that Texans ensured us isn't true!
So, every once in a while, it's okay to question those things.
Do your research
At one point, you will come to a stage where what you've seen on TV, learned through travels or simply happen to know will not be enough. You'll need more, detailed information. This is when you do your research. There are plenty of great resources you can use, both off and on-LJ.
You can start with the classics (Google, Wikipedia or Flickr to get a feeling for how the area you're trying to write about looks like). Sometimes an official site can give you the desired answers. For example, you can check the US Department of X (Health and Human Services, Education or Labor), the FBI's website, or a certain city's and college's website for information. If you're more the book-reading kind, you can check your local library or even buy a book. There are plenty of guide books for expats and immigrants that will answer many of the questions you have.
On top of that, there are also some great communities on LJ where you can find answers. You can check little_details, multilingual or the workshops at this community. A good resource is art_savage's workshop on research, linked below.
And then there is always fiction that offers a feel for the countries or cities you're writing about. Reading fiction can be a great way to learn about something, but they need to be approached with care because after all, they're fiction. But if you have a specific place in mind, like New York, and you're willing to invest the time, there are tons of pieces of literature set in that city. Paul Auster writes about New York almost exclusively, and various authors will give you various insights and a feel about what New Yorkers may love about their city, and what they don't. Likewise, if you're writing an AU set in a specific time of history, it may be a good idea to read pieces of fiction that were actually written at the time. In the way these works talk about things (or don't talk about things) you may learn a lot about the feel of these times and the mentality of the people.
Ask for help
Never be afraid to ask your friendslist for help! If none of your previous efforts helped you answer your questions (or if you simply need the answer quickly!), don't hesitate to use your flist as a resource. A lot of things you might not know is common knowledge to them. They're familiar with US education because they went the route from pre-school to college and they know all too well what orientation week feels like. They know about local foods, about regional slang and their own everyday life. Your friends are your most valuable resource!
Once you've finished your fic and edited it yourself, don't be afraid to ask for a US American beta or someone who's really familiar with the country. Ask them to not only pay attention to language but also the little things that might strike them as weird. You'll make your beta's job a lot easier if you can give them the heads up about your weaknesses.
III. Helpful links
Before we leave you off with the discussion, we have a small list of resource that might come in handy in the future when it comes to paying attention to the details.
Good general resources are:
IV. Discussion
Both legoline and benitle live in Europe, so you saw that a lot of the examples were based on a USA - Europe comparison. We meant no offense. It's simply what we know best. We'd love to hear from you now, esp. those of you who are neither European nor US American.
Is there anything else you can think of? Maybe it's something that your beta corrected for you or that you - as an US American - found odd in a fic?
Can you share any other great resources for figuring out the little things?
Edit: A lot of people have commented to add more examples, share brilliant insights and correct us on a few occasions. There have been some great discussions and further explorations of the topic, so please make sure to also look into the comments. Just maybe two more things that - apparently - weren't clear to everybody. As stated above, both authors of this workshop are European and both are ESLs. This post was meant as a helpful resource to those who need and want it, not as a fixed set of rules that need to be followed.
It also seems that we didn't stress enough that with a country the size of the USA, regionalism is another important factor and that something that's true for one part of the country, also has to be true for all the other parts of the country.
Faking It: Pretending You're A US Citizen When You're An Ocean Away (language barriers and a lot more)
Even though Supernatural is a show based on two US American brothers, it is admired and loved by people from all over the world. From Day 01, fandom has been a global community, with the internet making it easy to access the show and fellow fen from anywhere in the world. It doesn't come as a surprise that it's not just the US American portion of fandom contributing through fanfiction. While it might be the ESLs (English as a Second Language speakers) who have it the hardest, it's not only them who might struggle with one major factor: not being American.
Why does this even matter?
Supernatural deals not only with two brothers fighting heaven and hell, it also deals with a country and its culture. In some ways, Supernatural is one of the most "American" shows out there, because unlike the majority of other shows, it is not restricted to a specific town, or city building, or even room (for instance, like a sitcom). In traveling through the Midwest and the small towns, and via literally using the backroads of the US, Supernatural is as American as it gets. Urban legends, myths and folklore have always been important aspects of the show. And even though most fanfiction writers research these things (US Americans or not), there are a lot of other things a writer can do wrong. Whether they mean to or not. Getting a small detail wrong is certainly not the end of the world, but ultimately, it might be the little things that throw your readers out of your fic or make it sound off. (Note: there's obviously absolutely nothing wrong with not being an US American and it should never stop you from writing fanfiction. But for the sake of writing fanfiction that is as authentic as it possibly can be, we're going to look at the details you might have to pay extra attention to, only because they might be different from what you know.)
In the following we'd like to give you an overview of a range of things that might give you away as an non-American and that might ruin the flow of your fic for any readers that are US Americans/very familiar with the USA.
I. The devil is in the details
As we said, often it's going to be the little things, the details, that give you away. Things that you don't even really think about because you're just so used to them the way they are. You're not necessarily going to remember that they're different in other countries. This can be tricky. Because while you're most likely are going to research urban legends, you're not really going to research what driving in the USA is like or what the typical foods on the menu of a diner are. Simply because it's not on your agenda as something you need to read more about before you start writing fic. And most of the time this is perfectly fine! Only because you're not going to research meticulously down to the tiniest of details doesn't mean you're automatically going to get them all wrong.
If you're unsure though, maybe you should take the few minutes it takes to verify that you're right (or find out that you're wrong and correct your mistakes, either way). We've compiled a list of various examples and tried to cluster them into different categories. We're aware that not all categories are going to apply to your fic every time. We'd like to see it as a general guideline for things to check when you write. Please view this as a resource you can come back to in the future if you need to. This list is by no means complete.
Geography, climate, and environment
The USA are a huge country. In fact, unless you live in Russia, Canada (or China), the USA is going to be a bigger country than yours. A US American's sense for distance might be very different from your own. For example, to most Europeans one hour is a long drive, whereas for some US Americans, it's their daily commute to work. As already hinted at, part of that results in the sheer vastness of the country. Because there is so much space, it would be impossible to connect all places to public transport. The very few cities that have a good public transport system are those confined to a limited area where space is valuable, like San Francisco or Manhattan. In Los Angeles however, it can easily take over and hour to get to Santa Monica via the bus, and a good fifteen-minute walk to get to the next bus station. In other words: there's a lot of ground to cover, hence why the perception of distance might differ from, say, the European one. While you may not necessarily have your characters use buses and other forms of public transport, it's certainly good to keep in mind that the distances in the USA are quite unlike from anything you get in Europe (to keep with that continent). If your character does take the bus? In some cities, bus drivers don't give change.
Familiarize yourself with basic geography! You don't need to know each state and their cities/population to the smallest detail, but should have a general feeling for where which state is. For example, Alaska is not bordering any other US states, you can't drive from Philly to LA in 20 hours. Even though there is a West Virgina, there's no East Virgina and even though Kansas and Arkansas are close, they don't share a direct border. A lot of these things are common knowledge. But in case you're unsure, Google Maps is a quick way to look it up.
Wikipedia is a great source to get a basic idea of what flora and fauna you may encounter in a certain state, as well as other tidbits of useful information. (legoline, for one, learned that there had never been as much gold mining in Montana as she'd always imagined). Also, approach movie pictures set in certain states with caution. It's not uncommon for a director to have their films shot in a place that looks the part, but really isn't. "Brokeback Mountain" for example, which lives of its scenic landscape, was filmed in Canada - the same goes for Supernatural as you surely know! Personal travel websites tend to be helpful and more reliable. There are plenty of globetrotters out there who happily upload their photos and share their experiences of their visit!
People & culture
One of the most important assets of a country is its people and their culture. If you write Supernatural fic, obviously, you'd also want to familiarize yourself with what kinds of people Sam and Dean come in contact with on a day-to-day basis. Try to get a general understanding of customs, national holidays, history and ethnicity.
Days like Columbus Day, Black Friday, Veterans Day, Independence Day, President's Day or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day might not be celebrated in your country. Or - some days you celebrate might be celebrated on a different day in the US. Labor Day in Germany is always on May 1st. In the US, it's the first Monday in September. Familiarize yourself with traditions, typical meals and conditions too! If Thanksgiving is somewhat important to your fic, your protagonists will most likely not sit at the table in shorts, short-sleeved shirts and flip flops because it doesn't tend to be warm on Thanksgiving. (And since there are exceptions to everything they even might, depending on where they live.)
If native American culture plays a major part in your fic (think Bugs of season 1), you might want to research North American Native tribes and which tribes lived where to make sure you're getting the settings right.
With the Impala being almost being one of the main characters of the show, driving has always played an important role in Supernatural fic. One would think that driving is just driving, and that there are no traps there. But even something as simple as driving a car comes with its own unique traits. While it's widely known that American cars drive on the right side of the road and most of them are automatic ones rather than manuals, other differences might be not quite so obvious. In some areas parking metres only accept quarters, traffic lights are on the other side of the intersection (after the intersection, not before like in Europe) and if there are no signs at an intersection, the cars go in the order they arrived. At least in California, parking zones are marked in different colours at the curb, and you don't take the highway/freeway headed to "San Francisco" but plainly the "CA-1" going "north/south" or "west/east". In general, driving in the US is fairly relaxed, roads and parking garages are bigger and smaller cars are rare (given by how much time you spend in a car in the US, that's not surprising). Most of these things you can learn by either asking around or researching online. Again, while you may not always give a detailed account of Sam or Dean driving, it's good to keep these things in mind. If you want Sam to bicker about Dean not paying attention to the traffic rules, it's certainly an advantage to have a rough idea of the rules Dean may be ignoring. Likewise, if you have Bela use the "tow-away zone" trick again, knowing what indicates such a zone is helpful as well.
Even if your fanfic isn't a casefic heavily based on historic events, it's still good to know some basic history. The pilgrims arrived at the East coast and today's territory of the USA used to be British, French and Spanish colonies. To have a basic idea of the mentality of the people and the events that shaped it, you should read into the history a bit if you haven't already. As previously mentioned, the same goes for the big national holidays like Thanksgiving or Halloween. To get a profounder understanding about what makes them so special, read into the history of the holidays. Wikipedia is always a good way to get you started. Another fantastic way to get a feeling for, say Thanksgiving, is to ask your flisters about how their Thanksgiving is usually celebrated, what foods they have etc. These "first hand accounts" may give your fanfic that extra touch of "familiarity" that gets it just right.
Speaking of Thanksgiving leads us to local dishes and beverages. They're closely tied to people. In fact, they are part of a country's culture. Including national dishes and beverages are a great way to give your fic a nice, authentic touch. Obviously, you don't need to memorize detailed menus of diners, but since Sam and Dean spend their fare share of time eating diner food, it helps knowing what's typical and what not. We're safe to assume that Sam and Dean aren't necessarily the type of people to try international specialities, mostly because they might simply not have access to them. Haggis is unlikely to be on the list of things Sam and Dean have ever tried. However, if you know of regional specialities of the USA, don't be scared to include them! With eating so much diner food, Sam and Dean certainly will be grateful for a bit of variety if they can get it. (Dean certainly would appreciate a Philly Cheesesteak!) Obviously, the same goes for drinks.
Speaking of food, most people in the US wouldn't order water at a restaurant. You receive tap water for free.
Educational System
In this particular case, it is usually most helpful to read into the educational system and then ask your friends/flist if you have specific questions. While the system of high school is not that hard to understand, as soon as a character enters college things tend to get confusing. There are colleges and undergraduate classes and majors and minors, and it gets really tricky if you want your character to enter a specific college or university, or have him take specific classes. Students have to apply for colleges and grad schools, and financing a college is often an issue (hence John's comment about how he started a savings account for college on the day Dean was born). In this particular case, the easiest and most reliable way might be to simply ask your flist for help. Ask about what requirements need to be met to be allowed to enter college, ask about dorm and class experiences. If you pick a specific college or university, make the effort to visit the website. It may give you an idea of the college's priorities, size and layout. If you get the chance to visit San Francisco--it's only a 30 minute drive to Palo Alto. Take your camera and visit the campus. Visit the bookshop, the food court and find the law school. Sit down for a moment and take in the atmosphere of Stanford. Try to picture Sam and/or Dean in those places. It'll do wonders.
Social Security System
Another system you most probably will have to familiarize yourself with is the Social Security system (equivalent to National Insurance in the UK, for example). It can be incredibly confusing and vastly different from what you're used to. No one expects you to be an expert on these things. Often it's already scary enough to understand your own country's system! But basic knowledge might come in handy.
You might ask yourself why you should care about retirement ages when Sam and Dean don't have a "real" job to retire from. What if you're writing a curtain fic where Sam and Dean settle down and take regular day jobs? Is Dean likely to still work at a garage at the age of 60, 65 or 70? If the information isn't necessary for Sam and Dean, it might make the original character you're creating more realistic. Will your OMC be able to have a "freak accident" at a construction site at the previously mentioned ages or do you need to make him younger? Just like in Germany, the retirement age is 67 - though there are rules for exceptions. But unlike in Germany, it is not uncommon in the US for employees to continue working after that age.
Other components of the Social Security system are unemployment benefits, temporary assistance for needy families and health care. With the constant danger Sam and Dean are in, it's likely that they end up in hospital regularly. Potentially, health care is the part of the Social Security System that you will need knowledge for the most when you write fic. Unlike in Germany, for example, where every citizen has access to health insurance with aid of the government if necessary (in theory), the US system works differently. If you can't afford private health insurance, that's your problem. The US health care system is based a lot more on the private sector. Even though there are some state programs (like Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Veterans Health Administration), the largest part of all insurance holders are insured through some private insurance company. For example, in 2007 about 15% of US Americans did not have health insurance.
We've seen the Winchesters deal with health insurance in the past, so it's definitely been an issue in canon. Remember Elroy McGillicuddy and his two loving sons?
It's not just the health insurance that might be different from what you know. There are non-profit hospitals, privately owned for-profit hospitals as well as government hospitals in the US. Depending on which kind of hospital you're taking Sam and Dean to (and maybe also depending on the state!), the questions asked and the procedures might be different. Same goes for first responders like EMTs. Imagine an AU where Jensen works as a paramedic; the roles, responsibilities and medical training of paramedics might be vastly different from what you're familiar with.
The fact that the current US Government is debating a reform of the health care system doesn't make it easier to understand what's going on. A good idea is to refresh your memory every once in a while and to consult your friends for localized knowledge.
Metrics
If you're from say, Germany, remember that all (or most) metrics are different from the ones used in the US. You buy gas in gallons, not liters, you drive m/ph (miles per hour) and then there's that thing about inches, feet, yards and miles. Don't forget about the ounces and pounds! You don't need to learn these by heart--a list that helps calculating will do--but this is one of the things that will easily throw a reader off because they are so common in daily life. Just keep in mind that metrics are generally different, and to double-check before you write "liter" or "meter".
Other everyday life and the little things
As the title of this workshop states, the devil's in the details. There are seemingly tons of tiny things in everyday life that form traps for the non-American fanfiction writer. Doors have knobs, not handles, you tend to pay before you refill the tank, credit cards are widely accepted, even if you get a coffee from the coffee shop around the corner. You seemingly tip everyone (the hairdresser, the waiter, the guy who helps you with the luggage on the train) and while we're at the issue of money, if you pay in cash you're most likely to pay in bills and not coins. The correct response to "Have a nice day" is "You, too" and it's not unlikely for a waiter to ask if you want your burger well-done or medium. (Contrary to many parts of Europe where a burger is simply a burger and something you tend to get at fast food chains, not a diner.) These are the things you usually don't think about when you write, but that'll probably stand out to an US citizen instantly when done wrong.
This section may be the trickiest, because how do you do research on such small cultural things? The bad news first: there is no way to learn all the cultural differences, unless you migrate to the US and even then it's doubtful you'd get a hang of all of them. But, that doesn't mean you can't get better at noticing them. The key for that is to watch films/shows and read books more consciously. What's the typical layout of a house? (Or how is it presented on TV anyway?) What do the windows look like? How are windows locked? What appears to be the usual furnishing of a kitchen? What are usual gestures you don't typically see in your home country? (Like the tipping against one's nose, or the way beer is ordered by hiding up by the three middle fingers)
Another good way is to tell your beta readers to look out for these things (naturally, it makes the most sense to get a US citizen as a beta for this task). Nudge them to be nitpicky, and to point out anything that doesn't ring "American" or out of place to them. You'll be surprised what your betas will point out! After a while, you'll start remembering some of the things too.
Finally, once again, don't be shy to ask your flist about details, even if it's questions like "If Sam and Dean would live in an apartment, would their kitchen come with a waste grinder or not?" Your flist will most probably be happy to help you out!
Language
There's been lots of discussion in Supernatural fandom about whether fic needs to be written in American English in order to be "correct". There have been calls for fanfiction to be "Ameripicked" (similar to the call in Harry Potter fandom to have fics "Britpicked"). Others argue that even if it's British English, it's still grammatically correct (given of course that whichever English you write in, it is not full of spelling mistakes and its friends).
We're not here to make that decision for anybody. However, in the scope of this workshop, we wanted to address language as a factor that can easily give you away as a non-US-American.
The differences start with something as minor as spelling. We're sure that everybody's familiar with the classics such as color as opposed to colour, realize vs. realise or even things such as check vs. cheque. Contractions are another commonly known difference between AE and BE. Americans tend to get lazy when they speak and are more likely to shorten wherever they can. For example, in dialogue, Dean rather says "You better take care of that car. Or, I swear, I'll haunt your ass." (Faith, 1x12) than "I will haunt your ass."
Dialogue is actually a very good point. While you can argue that it doesn't really make a difference whether it's realize or realise, it does get tricky if we're talking about dialogue and the fact that some terms are simply different in AE and BE. These are little things you definitely should pay attention to! For example, Dean wouldn't tell Sam to get the shotgun from the "boot", he'd call it the "trunk". Using the wrong terms can make your characters sound out of character.
A few more examples are: waiting in line instead of queuing, apartment instead of flat, gas instead of petrol. The list is sheer endless! Of course, that's not enough. Sometimes, the same word will have a different meaning in the US from what you're used to. It makes things even more complicated because you think you're using the word right, whereas in fact, you aren't! An US American will think of something different when saying "football" than a Brit. Pie in the US is the sweet stuff Dean loves so much, whereas in New Zealand, it's mostly more savory (for example filled with mince, mince and cheese, steak or chicken).
And! Wait for it, just like in every country, there are also regional differences. Someone from Texas might order a coke, their friend from the Southeast will ask for a soda and the person from the Midwest wants a pop. In the end, they're all after the same thing. Finding the right word can be a hard and daunting task. Not only if you're writing in a foreign language.
There are some great resources out there that will help you get this right and it's definitely not impossible. So don't be afraid to use these resources! One thing we'd like to point out in particular is clex_monkie89's workshop on How to Write Natural Dialogue and Brotherly Banter and Make It Sound American and the resources linked from there.
II. How to avoid those traps
Now that we've looked at a wide range of things that can give you away as a non-American, we'd like to give you a few tips on how to avoid making those mistakes.
Keep your eyes open
You can avoid a lot of mistakes by simply keeping your eyes open. Look out for the little things when you watch TV. Not just Supernatural but also the other shows that you might watch.
High school/college-based shows like Glee or Freaks & Geeks will give you a first impression of how the educational system works and where you need to do some further reading. If you're into shows like Criminal Minds, CSI or various police shows you can get a feeling for law enforcement (which might come in handy if you're writing a fic from Henriksen's POV about chasing the Winchesters). If you're willing to invest the money, there are plenty of textbooks about Criminal Investigation that show and explain various techniques of interrogation etc. to students of criminal science. These books are usually very expensive, but it's worth keeping an eye on Amazon marketplace or eBay - sometimes they pop up there for a few Dollars or Euros. For your standard "Dean gets caught by FBI agent" fanfic, that kind of research may not be necessary, but if you're writing from Henriksen's POV, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with techniques used in the USA.
But it's not just about procedures. Someone cooking in any show can give you a feeling about American cuisine and how preparing meals is done differently from your country. Maybe the entire layout of the kitchen is different from what you're used to (fridges are bigger, you don't have fridge/freezer combos, no kitchen islands, etc.) Seeing how someone does the laundry can tell you that top loaders are far more popular in the US than Europe (where people mostly use front loaders). The possibilities are sheer endless and by simply watching out for the little things, you can learn a lot!
Even better though, if you have the chance to travel to the USA. If you're going on a trip anyway, make sure to pack your camera and take pictures to preserve the impressions and memories for later. While you're there, use the time to get an understanding of the country and its people. You can get a feeling for the weather and climate, classical foods on restaurants' menus, typical stores and what they sell and so much more. Even more, be observing and watch yourself. The tiny bits that make you frown and stop for a moment--like the use of credit cards, the locks that work differently, the fact that you tip next to everybody--are usually the things that you get wrong in writing simply because they seem as a given to you. You don't have to note them all down (you can of course, if you want to) but consciously looking out for these things already helps. When you write your story, and you've been to the US, take a moment to reminiscent. What did you have for breakfast? What did the cars look like? In what ways did the citizens of the US strike you different from the people from your own country? Really, traveling or spending some time in the US are the best - if sadly also most expensive - way to learn and understand the country.
Question fic clichés and stereotypes
Another source for mistakes is that occasionally wrong information is simply passed on from one person to the other. Only because you read a tidbit about a country, state, city in a fic doesn't necessarily mean it's true. So please, don't take everything you can find for granted, especially if it's stereotypes. Without knowing better, authors sometimes get these wrong and generalize where they clearly shouldn't. A previously common theme (especially in RPS) was that Texas often was portrayed as an incredibly homophobic state - a stereotype that Texans ensured us isn't true!
So, every once in a while, it's okay to question those things.
Do your research
At one point, you will come to a stage where what you've seen on TV, learned through travels or simply happen to know will not be enough. You'll need more, detailed information. This is when you do your research. There are plenty of great resources you can use, both off and on-LJ.
You can start with the classics (Google, Wikipedia or Flickr to get a feeling for how the area you're trying to write about looks like). Sometimes an official site can give you the desired answers. For example, you can check the US Department of X (Health and Human Services, Education or Labor), the FBI's website, or a certain city's and college's website for information. If you're more the book-reading kind, you can check your local library or even buy a book. There are plenty of guide books for expats and immigrants that will answer many of the questions you have.
On top of that, there are also some great communities on LJ where you can find answers. You can check little_details, multilingual or the workshops at this community. A good resource is art_savage's workshop on research, linked below.
And then there is always fiction that offers a feel for the countries or cities you're writing about. Reading fiction can be a great way to learn about something, but they need to be approached with care because after all, they're fiction. But if you have a specific place in mind, like New York, and you're willing to invest the time, there are tons of pieces of literature set in that city. Paul Auster writes about New York almost exclusively, and various authors will give you various insights and a feel about what New Yorkers may love about their city, and what they don't. Likewise, if you're writing an AU set in a specific time of history, it may be a good idea to read pieces of fiction that were actually written at the time. In the way these works talk about things (or don't talk about things) you may learn a lot about the feel of these times and the mentality of the people.
Ask for help
Never be afraid to ask your friendslist for help! If none of your previous efforts helped you answer your questions (or if you simply need the answer quickly!), don't hesitate to use your flist as a resource. A lot of things you might not know is common knowledge to them. They're familiar with US education because they went the route from pre-school to college and they know all too well what orientation week feels like. They know about local foods, about regional slang and their own everyday life. Your friends are your most valuable resource!
Once you've finished your fic and edited it yourself, don't be afraid to ask for a US American beta or someone who's really familiar with the country. Ask them to not only pay attention to language but also the little things that might strike them as weird. You'll make your beta's job a lot easier if you can give them the heads up about your weaknesses.
III. Helpful links
Before we leave you off with the discussion, we have a small list of resource that might come in handy in the future when it comes to paying attention to the details.
Good general resources are:
- Google
- Wikipedia
- Flickr (try searching for places!)
- Travel guides
- Blogs by written expats
- Travel blogs
- http://www.caldrive.com/ - California Driving: a Survival Guide
- Amazon (for various pieces of fiction as well as history books, Criminal Investigation textbooks etc.)
- If you speak German, you might want to look at Alltag in Amerika in particular
- little_details (you can ask all kinds of questions there and have them answered by locals)
- multilingual (if you need to make sure that the term you want to use is the right one)
- world_tourist (comparable to Flickr, people share their travel photos)
- drop_the_u (a community for Ameripicking)
- spnroundtable's Workshops, in particular these:
- Workshop - Research: It's a Sickness
- Workshop: Giving Great Beta
- Workshop: How to Write Natural Dialogue and Brotherly Banter and Make It Sound American
- Workshop - Research: It's a Sickness
- maychorian compiled lists of Americanisms vs. Britishisms
IV. Discussion
Both legoline and benitle live in Europe, so you saw that a lot of the examples were based on a USA - Europe comparison. We meant no offense. It's simply what we know best. We'd love to hear from you now, esp. those of you who are neither European nor US American.
Is there anything else you can think of? Maybe it's something that your beta corrected for you or that you - as an US American - found odd in a fic?
Can you share any other great resources for figuring out the little things?
Edit: A lot of people have commented to add more examples, share brilliant insights and correct us on a few occasions. There have been some great discussions and further explorations of the topic, so please make sure to also look into the comments. Just maybe two more things that - apparently - weren't clear to everybody. As stated above, both authors of this workshop are European and both are ESLs. This post was meant as a helpful resource to those who need and want it, not as a fixed set of rules that need to be followed.
It also seems that we didn't stress enough that with a country the size of the USA, regionalism is another important factor and that something that's true for one part of the country, also has to be true for all the other parts of the country.