Writing - a discussion

[amberdreams]

I was on tumblr the other day and I came across some writing advice in the form of a long list. I didn't make a note of the blog I was on, or copy the list itself but basically, it went along the lines of:
By all means, include African Americans in your story - BUT do not presume to tell their story, it is theirs to tell.
Include Native Americans in your story but do not presume to tell their story, it is theirs to tell.
Include gay men in your story but do not presume to tell their story, it is theirs to tell.
Include transgender characters in your story but do not presume to tell their story, it is theirs to tell...
and so on.

I'm sure you get the gist, and the point they were making.

At first sight, I was nodding in agreement - this is merely an extention of the old adage 'write what you know', isn't it? So yeah, I could see some validity in what they were saying. But then I got to thinking. Surely, by the time I'd eliminated all the categories of people in their list whose stories I was not qualified to tell by dint of being who I am, the only protagonist remaining for my stories would have to be a short, fat, middle aged white woman.

Who the hell wants to read about me? I (and everyone else) would be reduced to self insert fic, which I abhore.

I feel suddenly I'm sounding like a Daily Mail reader, but surely this is political correctness gone mad.

Or am I missing something here?

Feel free to pitch in!

Comments

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I can see what they're saying but if we only write what we know - O.o Nothing would ever get written! Also, come on, just because we don't have life experience of an event or a lifestyle, that doesn't preclude us from empathy. I don't get pissy when someone writes about an abusive domestic relationship and has never even sniffed one, let alone witnessed it or whatever. It's an extreme example but it's still a valid one. Through writing we learn, we research, we *try* and understand.

As a writer/author you constantly second guess yourself as it is; am I making this too generalized, am I offending someone, is this too much??? I think 'write what you know, and ONLY what you know' is the worst advice ever.

And can we just for a moment point out that it's not just minorities that get broadly generalized in fiction by people who haven't got a clue - white middle class and able bodied people almost seem to be the frowned upon set now. If you don't happen to have something that makes you different, then how dare you have an idea or opinion (sorry, harsh, but true).

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

You might get pissy if that person wrote about an abusive relationship and totally misrepresented reality, though. A bit like the way 50 Shades shows an abusive relationship dressed up as BSDM and therefore ok. And it wasn't only the people in the BSDM who thought this was irresponsible and potentially damaging, as well as bad writing.

I guess I can see that there are occasions when people should shout about misrepresentation and inaccuracy - but also that if marginalised groups yell about every little thing, the impact of their outrage is diminished and often ignored. It's about picking your battles, methinks!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Thing is hun, they do. All the time. I've tried politely to point that out to people when they go completely over board or just run rough shod over what actually happens, but it's a free country and those people will continue to write what they want. I don't get pissy because I'm sure I've written shit that is so off base it's painful.

As for Fifty Shades, that was the biggest pile of wank known to man. She should be ashamed of it, seriously.

Picking your battles indeed.