amberdreams | (Reply)

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Write what I know... If I did that, every lesbian would be a butch dyke (the label my aunt uses to describe herself.) Gay men would be black and flamboyant, white and closeted, or white and prefers to be called sister, rather than brother. I'm not gay though, so I shouldn't use the people who shaped my youth as inspiration.

All ex-military would be harsh and mildly abusive, but should not write about the stories my dad told me, because I am not military.

I should not write about losing a parent, but I can write about losing a child. I should not write about grandfathers, but I can write about absent grandmothers.

What a load of hog wash. I've written about 9-11, even though I was not near any of it. I've written about cancer and cancer recovery. Never had it, but I know people who have, and none of them felt slighted about me writing a cancer recovery story.

The thing about stories is... most are fictional and only the people who are offended by fiction are those who are overly sensitive.

If they think I will not write my Black, Gay, Flashy Djin, simply because I am a white straight woman, they are sadly mistaken. Any issues with me writing a black person may be taken up with my Black Auntie (not my lesbian aunt). She will gladly stomp them into a puddle of goo. (My family is very colorful and variant.)