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

[fairyniamh]

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.)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

While I appreciate there are sensitivities, I do think some people are over sensitive...though of course those people would just dismiss my opinion because I'm white, middle class, etc etc...