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Hi, y'all. I'm moving to LA to pursue a career in TV writing. I'm from Georgia and I'm starting to worry about my accent.
My accent is light and frothy, I'd say, but still distinctly Southern. I've had people telling me that I won't be taken seriously in LA with a Southern accent and that I should try to reduce it (some even say I should get accent reduction coaching!)
On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder if it actually might help. When I visited LA myself for about a month, I got a lot of compliments on my voice. People really seemed to love it and found it charming! I never got any negative comment, only positive.
Maybe it won't make a difference either way but my friends have made me worried and my LA experience has made me hopeful. Any thoughts?
A thick southern accent in the northeast or California can make you seem dim-witted, and under-educated.
A soft accent comes across as charming and polite, and it may actually work for you if are trying to start a career in writing - especially when pitching projects.
An accent isn't usually an issue if your vocabulary and diction are on point, and your accent isn't so thick that it hinders your ability to communicate. It especially shouldn't hinder you in TV writing, as that's an industry that thrives on distinctive voices, tones and points-of-view.
Anyway, I have a slight southern accent and never had any problems, professionally, in the northeast or midwest.
Hi, y'all. I'm moving to LA to pursue a career in TV writing. I'm from Georgia and I'm starting to worry about my accent.
My accent is light and frothy, I'd say, but still distinctly Southern. I've had people telling me that I won't be taken seriously in LA with a Southern accent and that I should try to reduce it (some even say I should get accent reduction coaching!)
On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder if it actually might help. When I visited LA myself for about a month, I got a lot of compliments on my voice. People really seemed to love it and found it charming! I never got any negative comment, only positive.
Maybe it won't make a difference either way but my friends have made me worried and my LA experience has made me hopeful. Any thoughts?
Don't believe em. While I haven't traveled out West yet, I've been up and down the East coast now pretty much. And when people here me speak, people compliment me or ask me if I'm for the South more often than them not taking me seriously (my accent is not thick, but people notice it lol). As someone else said, it's really about your vocab, how you carry yourself, and your diction. That carries more weight than your accent
They are annoying sometimes (depends on the speaker), and yes, they're considered rather "informal" apart from the Deep South... thank God they've mostly disappeared from Maryland. I don't judge people based on their accent but if you're going to "pursue a career in TV writing," then I'd try to get rid of it.
Hi, y'all. I'm moving to LA to pursue a career in TV writing. I'm from Georgia and I'm starting to worry about my accent.
My accent is light and frothy, I'd say, but still distinctly Southern. I've had people telling me that I won't be taken seriously in LA with a Southern accent and that I should try to reduce it (some even say I should get accent reduction coaching!)
On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder if it actually might help. When I visited LA myself for about a month, I got a lot of compliments on my voice. People really seemed to love it and found it charming! I never got any negative comment, only positive.
Maybe it won't make a difference either way but my friends have made me worried and my LA experience has made me hopeful. Any thoughts?
For certain, some folks are going to pick at you, but I wouldn't change my accent. I would emphasize it and have fun with them
Hi, y'all. I'm moving to LA to pursue a career in TV writing. I'm from Georgia and I'm starting to worry about my accent.
My accent is light and frothy, I'd say, but still distinctly Southern. I've had people telling me that I won't be taken seriously in LA with a Southern accent and that I should try to reduce it (some even say I should get accent reduction coaching!)
On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder if it actually might help. When I visited LA myself for about a month, I got a lot of compliments on my voice. People really seemed to love it and found it charming! I never got any negative comment, only positive.
Maybe it won't make a difference either way but my friends have made me worried and my LA experience has made me hopeful. Any thoughts?
If your speaking style is as clear and pleasant as your writing style, you should be just fine!
I hope I NEVER lose my southern accent. When I was a corporate trainer who traveled extensively throughout the US, I was always complimented on it regardless of where I was leading a class or group. To hell with anyone who criticizes you on it!
If your speaking style is as clear and pleasant as your writing style, you should be just fine!
I hope I NEVER lose my southern accent. When I was a corporate trainer who traveled extensively throughout the US, I was always complimented on it regardless of where I was leading a class or group. To hell with anyone who criticizes you on it!
I agree with this.^^^^^ And remember only the ignorant criticize .
Hi, y'all. I'm moving to LA to pursue a career in TV writing. I'm from Georgia and I'm starting to worry about my accent.
My accent is light and frothy, I'd say, but still distinctly Southern. I've had people telling me that I won't be taken seriously in LA with a Southern accent and that I should try to reduce it (some even say I should get accent reduction coaching!)
On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder if it actually might help. When I visited LA myself for about a month, I got a lot of compliments on my voice. People really seemed to love it and found it charming! I never got any negative comment, only positive.
Maybe it won't make a difference either way but my friends have made me worried and my LA experience has made me hopeful. Any thoughts?
Be yourself! I'm not sure blending in so as to not stick out is an intelligent way to go about pursuing a career in LA. Linda Bloodworth-Thomason certainly has had a successful career as a writer/producer with her lovely Ozarks drawl.
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