tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post8052899191706359836..comments2024-02-16T02:56:00.399-08:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: The Book I *Could* Have Written But Didn'tNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-61447649240153458362016-09-18T10:59:11.791-07:002016-09-18T10:59:11.791-07:00Thanks for this post. It has hit home with me. I a...Thanks for this post. It has hit home with me. I also have a YA fantasy inspired by Native American traditions, stories, etc. I haven't finished the last edit and sent it out for anyone to read and I think you have hit on why. I'm not sure I'm doing justice to the history of the stories and the people. It may be a story that will remain in my files, even though I love so much about it.Traci VWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18158949570719862850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-48833020402743261632016-09-17T09:18:33.821-07:002016-09-17T09:18:33.821-07:00I wrote a book with a main character who happened ...I wrote a book with a main character who happened to be black. I made a point of saying (in my book) that this character was a mysterious person. I wanted to keep him a mystery (to the other characters and to myself) because I once knew a guy like that, a very private and charismatic person that always struck me as mysterious. I don't know if I succeeded or not. It never once occurred to me that someone might be offended by the character. (I grew up poor white in a small Southern town. If someone were to accuse me of unintentional racism- I would just tell them they are wrong). To date, no one has mentioned any feelings of offense. I believed in that book. I believed in that character. If someone were to be offended, I would tell them that no offense was meant but I would not change a thing about that character. Period. I think many writers second-guess themselves too much. If a story is burning in you and you want to write it very badly - just write it! Don't worry so much. Cynthia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595677706434920552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-87552756062431476322016-09-16T08:05:10.205-07:002016-09-16T08:05:10.205-07:00This is so cool. Good on you! I am curious, as an ...This is so cool. Good on you! I am curious, as an aspiring writer, how inclusive the term "diversity" is--does it merely reflect what we consider minority cultures/groups? <br /><br />There are "white" cultures that have been portrayed in books, fantasy especially, that have been eschewed (what a fun word!) by those with roots in them. Russian culture seems to especially be the "craze" nowadays in fantasy, and I wonder if the writers approach that culture with as much respect and thoughtfulness as you have here. Because whether or not we want to admit it, Russian and other Eastern European cultures (not to mention Middle Eastern, Asian, etc.! I'm only focusing on Eastern Europeans because I myself have roots there) are outside the understanding of a lot of people thanks to the Iron Curtain--there are years of grief there too to unpack.<br /><br />Just some food for thought. :) Ha ha, comes from being a university student with too much time on her hands. Keep asking those questions, and please continue sharing your thoughts! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13171567731644896572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-564317663873146262016-09-16T02:10:23.352-07:002016-09-16T02:10:23.352-07:00Like you, Natalie, I strive for diversity and posi...Like you, Natalie, I strive for diversity and positive representation in my writing. I had a similar realisation while debating whether or not to include a transsexual character in my latest book. I spoke to a close friend of mine, who is trans, and basically the conversation came down to "you're doing a lot of good for representation, if you put this in, the way you've described it, it'll not only be a poor representation of a trans character, but it'll undo a lot of the good you've done in the series so far, by making it look like you're just trying to tick off boxes."<br /><br />It was hard to hear, but I needed to hear it. Like you, I'm glad I asked the question. What I learned is, not every story is mine to write. Not every issue is mine to tackle. And certainly, not every issue needs to be in every book.<br /><br />So instead I look for ways I can help trans people have their own voices heard.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76132058952208410502016-09-15T18:16:33.712-07:002016-09-15T18:16:33.712-07:00Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this, Natalie. I'...Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this, Natalie. I'm still working through issues of whether I should write certain stories or not, and this is an extremely helpful way of looking at it.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-59313458985099955042016-09-15T16:44:41.040-07:002016-09-15T16:44:41.040-07:00Very thoughtful. I've got a story in mind that...Very thoughtful. I've got a story in mind that is best left there, because I'm not the right person to write it.William Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331324250821836822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69047524419909927422016-09-15T13:33:46.413-07:002016-09-15T13:33:46.413-07:00You're a truly wonderful person, Natalie. Than...You're a truly wonderful person, Natalie. Thank you for sharing your experience. Christine Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08711726941768571495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-45206031604754764772016-09-15T10:55:46.499-07:002016-09-15T10:55:46.499-07:00Fantastic post.Fantastic post.Kate Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09484767077915047769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-79524743924973010442016-09-15T09:08:36.147-07:002016-09-15T09:08:36.147-07:00Fantastic post! Such a relevant topic, and very we...Fantastic post! Such a relevant topic, and very well put.Nickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02909549185909672642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-67618845924753350522016-09-15T08:23:29.561-07:002016-09-15T08:23:29.561-07:00Excellent post!Excellent post!Yamile Mendezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03606050648330121673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5529733812440128072016-09-15T08:06:44.439-07:002016-09-15T08:06:44.439-07:00Yes x 100000000.Yes x 100000000.Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52149126722569269922016-09-15T08:03:13.177-07:002016-09-15T08:03:13.177-07:00Yes x 100000000.Yes x 100000000.Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76623583155640586532016-09-15T07:30:10.250-07:002016-09-15T07:30:10.250-07:00This is really thoughtful, Natalie, and it's a...This is really thoughtful, Natalie, and it's articulated a lot of things I've been thinking about. Mostly, that there are some stories that aren't mine to write--and whenever I do write out of my lane, I need to do my research, get readers, and try to be as respectful as possible. (And if I mess up or hurt someone, realize it's THEIR RIGHT to be hurt, and my job to do better). Rosalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533288555696717340noreply@blogger.com