Good evening, friends and family!\u00a0 Let’s continue more subjects I’ve learned along my writer’s journey.\u00a0 While the main target of this post is to other writers, I think you may find some application for these topics in other areas.\u00a0 As always, please let me know what you think at the end about this topic, and what other topics you’d like me to expound on.<\/p>\n
What do I mean about “writing responsibly?” A few things:<\/p>\n
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Don’t Hurt People with your Words<\/strong><\/p>\n Stories matter.\u00a0 Stories are powerful creations that take on a life of their own and have the ability to change lives, for better or for worse.\u00a0 Indigenous people will tell you how important stories are to their culture.\u00a0 The truth is, stories are important in every culture.\u00a0 The importance of some stories is more obvious than others.<\/p>\n If you’re going to represent a culture, be responsible and represent it accurately and respectfully.\u00a0 Do your research and find sensitivity readers to make sure you’re getting the details right.\u00a0 Cultural appropriate is a real thing, and it’s an evil thing.\u00a0 If you misrepresent a culture in your story, whether you intend to or not, you could be misshaping history in ways that will have lasting consequences.\u00a0 The stories of a people belong to those people.\u00a0 Respect them so that you don’t destroy them.<\/p>\n Going further, be respectful of subcultures that are not your own.\u00a0 If you’re not gay but you want to have a gay character in your story, do some research.\u00a0 Be careful not to simply regurgitate stereotypes are tired cliches.\u00a0 Not only can it be hurtful to the people you’re misrepresenting, stereotypes and cliches will just makes your story sad and pathetic.<\/p>\n Be aware of the impact your plots will have on people that have suffered similar trauma.\u00a0 You can have rape and violence and war and dismemberment in your stories.\u00a0 If it’s important to your book, go for it.\u00a0 Just be mindful of your audience.\u00a0 Don’t cheapen the traumatic or downplay it in your narrative.\u00a0 Go there if your story calls for it, but don’t go there if you’re doing so as a cheap tactic.<\/p>\n If you want to have characters that are monsters, that’s one thing.\u00a0 We can all get behind hating a good villain or monster.\u00a0 But be aware of your narrative and what you’re saying with your themes and content.\u00a0 Is your narrative approving of neo-Nazi ideals?\u00a0 Is that really the message you want to put out in the world?\u00a0 How about misogyny or racial prejudice or homophobia or…<\/p>\n The list goes on.\u00a0 Yes, at times it may seem like we’re living in a culture that’s trying to police tone and content.\u00a0 It’s important to remember the bottom line.\u00a0 You are responsible for the story you create, and your words matter.\u00a0 Stories last, and words hurt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be True<\/strong><\/p>\n Some of this part may seem contradictory to the previous section, but when you start telling a story, be true to it.\u00a0 Go forth boldly and say what needs to be said, even if it makes you uncomfortable.\u00a0 Sometimes, especially if it makes you uncomfortable.<\/p>\n If in the course of your story your characters are going to a dark place, don’t shy away.\u00a0 Get to the other side.\u00a0 Maybe you’re dealing with a violent outburst, or a sexual awakening, or a crisis of faith, or a vengeful execution.\u00a0 Go there.\u00a0 See it through.\u00a0 Write the story.<\/p>\n It’s possible that in staying true to the story, you might cross into an area of conflict where the subject matter might be hurtful to a group of people.\u00a0 Be true to the story as you’re writing it, then judge it after the fact.\u00a0 Put it in front of some sensitivity readers and listen to what they have to say.\u00a0 Maybe you wrote something that shouldn’t see the light of day, but maybe you worked through some difficult subject matter and got to the other side with a message that people need to read.\u00a0 You can’t know for sure until you get to the end.<\/p>\n As long as you stay true to the story and respectful of the cultures and people represented in your story, you can say just about anything.\u00a0 More than likely, there’s an audience waiting to hear your perspective.\u00a0 But if you don’t stay true to the story, your message will be tepid or poisonous.\u00a0 Either way, it won’t be something you can defend or stand on because lies and cowardice make for a weak foundation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Own the Impact of Your Words<\/strong><\/p>\n You might get to the other side of a story and put something hurtful out into the world without knowing it.\u00a0 Maybe you accidentally (or intentionally!) put out a story with a strong anti-vax message.\u00a0 It’s out in the world now, and people are reading and responding to your work with appropriate hostility.<\/p>\n Own your words.\u00a0 You wrote it.\u00a0 Take responsibility.<\/p>\n If you were an anti-vaxer when you wrote some screed and have since reached a level of enlightenment, you are still the owner of your little monster.\u00a0 You need to take responsibility.\u00a0 If you disagree with what you wrote, put that message out there.\u00a0 If you agree with what you wrote, stand up for yourself and defend yourself with eloquence and grace.\u00a0 Either way, own your words.\u00a0 They’re yours, and if they landed on your audience like a punch to the face, that’s on you.<\/p>\n If you are respectful of the people you’re writing about, and if you are staying true in your writing, you probably won’t have to worry about this so much.\u00a0 But accidents happen.\u00a0 Weird Al wrote a song called Word Crimes<\/a> and later found out that his use of the word “spastic” is offensive.\u00a0 How did he react?<\/p>\n If you thought I didn\u2019t know that \u201cspastic\u201d is considered a highly offensive slur by some people\u2026 you\u2019re right, I didn\u2019t. Deeply sorry.<\/p>\n — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 20, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n