(no subject)

[bottle_of_smoke]

The problem with writing fic based in a foreign country is choosing spellings accordingly. Writing US-based fic, I have no problem with writing colour or tyre or cheque, as these words, whether the British or American spelling, are pronounced identically, so I can preserve some of my Englishness in them. The exception to this rule is, of course, the use of letters: letters written by characters in a story should always preserve the language and spelling of the character who is writing it, not the author, and that includes the good old [sic] of course. However, I find I struggle when it comes to words such as aluminium/aluminum, or aeroplane/airplane, as these words, though similar-looking and meaning the same thing, are not pronounced identically. I have finally resolved to spell them in the way the characters would pronounce them, though I have to admit I had to wrench it from my fingers with no small bitterness. It just don't feel right =(

Any thoughts? What are your rules for this, cross-culture ficcers?