How Broad Are You?

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?

No, I do not.

What Dick said.

What Dick and Shelagh said.

It is so nce to be right--can't miss when I echo these two perfectos.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

I'm with everyone here on this subject. If you are going to write about something of which you know nothing, do the research!!