I’ve had this question in my head for a little while and thought I’d send it out to the blog audience. Hopefully I can recruit some educators to jump in on the conversation as well. I’ve read a few posts about ageist, racist and sexist fiction writing. I’m exposing my ignorance her by admitting I don’t exactly know what that means. I’ve never studied writing. I don’t want to be guilty of these social sins, but I’m not sure where to start learning more.
I also don’t want to sanitize my writing. These are issues I want to explore. I write stream of consciousness and I want to uncover flawed characters. I want people to read and think and reread and question their own motives. How do I do that without being accused of “isms?” Where can I learn more about this? Is this something debated, or is it common knowledge? Thanks for any resources you can provide.
jentropy
words after
this might sound corny but I think it’s most important that you write your own truth. if there’s some sort of underlying “ism” there then explore it later. but for now? bust a move.
maybe just be reflexive about your attitudes about representation. it seems that’s what you’re talking about – essentially – so just consider what it is you’re saying when you talk about age, gender, class, race, ability and etc. I think that’s simply an expression of having a social conscience – rather than reinforcing oppression.
but the focus of fiction is really telling a good and authentic story. taking risks about exposing something is part of that. but I should talk. I tried writing a young adult novel. It’s damned hard!
just write. see what comes out. send the editor away for a while
Thanks, Melanie. I appreciate your response and know your wisdom. I guess I feel it’s important to reveal the minds of many types of people, and if I can do that, I should. I enjoy making people uncomfortable.
I agree with Melanie – write what’s real and right for you. If you write to avoid “being this” or “saying that” you’re only going to confuse your base of what you’re trying to say and how you’re trying to say it.
I guess this really depends on what you’re trying to write, also. If you’re going young adult, yeah you’re going to have to play by certain rules.
But in general, I write what I’d want to read, regardless of what the rules say. I don’t mean that in some pretentious artsy way – I hope that made sense.
the thing is, how can you depict reality without depicting all of it? there’s a particular bit of the Encheiridion I love, that says you need to remember when someone does something wrong, or is awful to you, that they’re doing what seems right to them. The *power* of that–of understanding that everyone has a reason for what they do, that everyone is, in their own mind, doing the right thing?–is enormous. Any isms that come up as a result of who your characters are, have to be looked at with that in mind. It’s part of what they do and therefore part of who they are.
Melanie’s right, bust a move. Shoot for reality and let the rest sort itself out later.
Thanks, Brian. It makes complete sense to me. This is probably why I didn’t really consider it an issue, until I saw it come up in a few online discussions. I’m not writing young adult, so I don’t need to worry about those rules. I appreciate the feedback! You’re my 100th comment. I should give you a prize, or at least add you to my blogroll.
Thanks for the reply and support. I do think we need to depict all of it, if we have the ability. I like that my characters make choices I would never make. I’ll keep writing real.
Agree totally w/the first comment – our characters are not always pretty or nice and human beings are never any one thing. A great book for writers is On Writing by Stephen King – he’s dealt with all the above and has some of the best insights about it (if you’ve have already read).
Thanks, DJ. I’ve not read it. Sounds like a valuable resource. I appreciate the reference!
Flawed characters are real characters. Personally I don’t want to read some sanitized version of reality. Some of the books I’ve enjoyed the most have been those with characters at whom I’ve gotten very angry.
I’d rather be angry at a book than feel nothing.
Jackie, thank you for the feedback. I love the idea of getting angry at characters!
It terms of writing, the best stuff tells us about the world we are living. Unfortunately the world we live in is flawed and racism, sexism and all the other isms still exist, in spite of how progressive some societies might think they are. Having racist or sexist characters populate a piece of writing, does not mean that writing is racist or sexist. In fact it can be quite the opposite.
For a great example of this I would recommend you read ‘The White Family’ by Maggie Gee. The novel features some very racist characters but is at no time racist in its approach. It challenges in its honest portrayal of the issue. In terms of creating complex, challenging characters, this was the best book I read last year. It is a great example of how to deal with difficult issues without sugar coating them or reducing them to a simple right or wrong.
Dan, thanks for the reply and recommendation. How can I learn more about avoiding the isms in writing or approach? You mention the novel avoids it, but I’m not sure I know how to identify it and avoid it. I wonder if there’s an equally good example of obvious isms in approach and writing.
Well, I could go into a lot of lit-crit gobbledygook involving the post-colonial and alterity an vocality but while it can be great fun for killing time and, back in the day, was even useful for hooking up, it comes to nothing when it’s time to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard, chisel to tablet).
Write what’s true. Not literally, as you know, but essentially. The rest doesn’t really matter much. The -isms come not from the story you tell but from where you tell the story… as long as you are honest, I don’t think you can go (far) wrong.
Just my opinion!
Chris, I’m guessing your knowledge on this is something I would like to tap into. I really was hoping to get some of that lit-crit stuff. Hopefully I can make it up to opened to talk! You know I go wrong in a lot of my communication, or at least, I don’t deliver the message as intended. I would love to talk about this with you some time!
Hello Jen,
I have been following your blog for a few months. I am intrigued by the use of your blog for creative, spontaneous writing.
I have been identifying numerous edublog types for my master’s studies in edtech at Athabasca University. I have exploring edublogging in quite a bit of depth.
I think you are exposing yourself quite a bit as a writer when you blog creatively out in the open. Not many of my adult learners would have the courage to do so. They have many stories to tell, but feel blocked by self-doubt.
You are an inspiration. I have a question for you: what would happen if you started to blog anonymously instead, and posting to your creative blog when you feel comfortable to do so? Would it change how you blog? Would you be a bit less careful how you present your ideas?
I am interested in the potential for edublogging for creative expression? Particularly for helping adult literacy learners find and strengthen their own voices. Are there anonymous creative blogs aspiring writers can join, and practice the writing craft?
How do you know I don’t blog anonymously?
I’m getting ready for a big road trip right now, but wanted to let you know I read the comment. I’ll think more about it during the trip and get back to you. Thanks for reading and for seeking educational opportunities in creative spaces!
Jen