| | How Broad Are You? | |
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+6Phil Whitley Brenda Hill alice Shelagh Dick Stodghill dtpollard 10 posters | Author | Message |
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dtpollard Four Star Member
Number of posts : 636 Registration date : 2008-06-08
| Subject: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:07 pm | |
| I had a guy reply on a message board, after thinking that the character of my book was a caucasian female, 'How can a 50-year-old black man write about a 28-year-old white woman'.
That was a strange question to me, because as a writer of fiction I don't place any limitations on what I can or can't write about, but obviously some potential readers have a built in limiter in their head based upon who the author happens to be.
The question I have is do any of you feel limited in what you can write about with integrity? |
| | | Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:08 pm | |
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| | | Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:50 pm | |
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| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:04 pm | |
| What Dick and Shelagh said. It is so nce to be right--can't miss when I echo these two perfectos. |
| | | Brenda Hill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1297 Registration date : 2008-02-16 Location : Southern CA
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:41 pm | |
| I read a book based on the story and/or the author - especially if it's by an author I like. And, I knew a man who refused to read a book written by a woman. So they're out there. |
| | | Phil Whitley Four Star Member
Number of posts : 907 Registration date : 2008-04-01 Age : 81 Location : Riverdale, GA
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:00 pm | |
| DT, it's people like that that want to limit you. I had a very difficult time in my WIP where I am describing my friendship with with a black boy in the 1950's south. We were both teased mercillessly by our parents and other people of our respective races, but now, 50+ years later, we are still friends.
The story about us I was telling was when the owner of the store where we both worked had just called him *that word*. My friend went into the warehouse and I followed him, feeling ashamed of my race.
He was crying and I said to him, "I know how you feel."
He turned to me in anger and said, "No you don't. The only way you could know how I feel is if you were as black as I am."
"Well, tell me then. What is it like being black?" and he proceeded to tell me. Soon we were both crying.
So yes, sometimes I do feel limited in writing about things like this, but I feel that if my intent is honorable, and I am trying to "get it right", then I proceed and write what's in my heart.
Did that make sense? |
| | | lin Five Star Member
Number of posts : 2753 Registration date : 2008-03-20 Location : Mexico
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:14 pm | |
| I've always thoght it was a hilarious concept that a white guy from New York is supposed capable of knowing what it's like to be a pirate of cowboy or crusading knight or roman centurian, but would be totally uncapable of writing reliably about at black man or white woman from New York. |
| | | Tory Lynn Three Star Member
Number of posts : 149 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Age : 60 Location : Auburn Washington
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:55 am | |
| It is on the lines of writing what you know, so if the research is done it can come across believable. I like talking to people about their experiences if they are open to it. You may have not ran a mile in their shoes, but if you get enough information, it can be written in a believable way.
Vickie |
| | | Rhymer Four Star Member
Number of posts : 278 Registration date : 2008-12-24 Age : 33 Location : usa
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:20 am | |
| - dtpollard wrote:
- I had a guy reply on a message board, after thinking that the character of my book was a caucasian female, 'How can a 50-year-old black man write about a 28-year-old white woman'.
That was a strange question to me, because as a writer of fiction I don't place any limitations on what I can or can't write about, but obviously some potential readers have a built in limiter in their head based upon who the author happens to be.
The question I have is do any of you feel limited in what you can write about with integrity? IMO a person is only as limited as they allow themselves to be. Imagination, research, and hard work makes a writer. |
| | | zadaconnaway Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4017 Registration date : 2008-01-16 Age : 76 Location : Washington, USA
| Subject: Re: How Broad Are You? Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:30 am | |
| I'm with everyone here on this subject. If you are going to write about something of which you know nothing, do the research!! |
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