tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post8269931032073304362..comments2023-12-25T00:38:19.500-08:00Comments on Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog (archive): Guest Blogger: Sherri L. Smith!!Sarah Stevensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534942492714970282noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-56315289977004381812008-02-15T10:08:00.000-08:002008-02-15T10:08:00.000-08:00Oh I am sorry I haven't been back here to continue...Oh I am sorry I haven't been back here to continue in this conversation. I get so distracted...<BR/><BR/>You've all taken me to task and you are right. I don't mean to say one can only write from one's own identity. I wouldn't want to limit anyone to just one perspective or experience. Many wonderful authors have written great books far beyond what they have lived themselves.<BR/><BR/>"Genuine" wasn't a very good word to use. "Authentic" is much more what I meant. "Honest" is good.. but from one's own experience is what I want I think.<BR/><BR/>I just meant I personally would rather read a story with main characters from ethnicities other than my own and that was written by a person of that same ethnicity. Perhaps it is a phase I am going through. Maybe later in my life I won't care so much. Maybe I will get beyond this narrow focus. <BR/><BR/>Right now - I am tired of the white man's perspective. I'm looking for great books written by Black, Latina, Asian, Native American or whatever women. Their own stories. I don't think there is enough of that published.<BR/><BR/>I don't expect the author to Represent the whole race or anything. I don't think a book by a Black woman is the only word on Black Culture. I feel really hungry for a whole cornucopia of stories that tell all the variations of the lives women live.<BR/><BR/>And yeah, my own bias is I don't think a White Man can write those stories. Maybe I'm wrong about that but I am not willing to spend time testing the theory by reading white men's books anymore.Andromeda Jazmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355192738014962965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-64103232737257693672008-02-15T03:47:00.000-08:002008-02-15T03:47:00.000-08:00Aww! Jules, the beauty of the internet is that all...Aww! Jules, the beauty of the internet is that all this nonsense will still be up here years from now when the girls want to be doing their own things and you have time and peace to read... Enjoy the now.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-47866882797328903172008-02-14T13:00:00.000-08:002008-02-14T13:00:00.000-08:00Oh sigh, I'm so HOPELESSLY behind on blog-reading ...Oh sigh, I'm so HOPELESSLY behind on blog-reading this week (well, more like two weeks) and just discovered this was here. I can't wait to read it later when there aren't little girls running around me and I have some quiet. :)<BR/><BR/>(Life is rough without <I>Finding Wonderland</I> every day. I've missed my blog-reading).<BR/><BR/>jules, 7-ImpJules at 7-Imphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14439756778611468303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-60237696804503371462008-02-14T07:32:00.000-08:002008-02-14T07:32:00.000-08:00TadMack wrote, "...even if it isn't readily appare...TadMack wrote, "...even if it isn't readily apparent, we're all made up of more than one race or culture..." <BR/><BR/>Yes! Well put.<BR/><BR/>As I read this very interesting post, I realize that there are many of us who are accustomed to walking with our feet in two worlds (or more....okay, mathematically impossible, but you know what I mean). As a former Southerner now living in the Northeast, I think about ideas like this a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-78162803750963724662008-02-14T07:02:00.000-08:002008-02-14T07:02:00.000-08:00There is a difference between 'genuine' and 'authe...There is a difference between 'genuine' and 'authentic' which should be pointed out here. If we mean genuine in the sense that there ought to be a criterion of 'made by an authentic member of X racial group,' then we're in deep trouble. If we mean genuine in the sense that the work itself contains truth, then of course works ought to be genuine (by 'truth' I intend the broader meaning of the word, as opposed to mere fact).<BR/><BR/>Everyone aiming at truth will achieve some greater or lesser representation of it, depending upon skill and familiarity with the particular truth they're attempting to portray. Thus, in some ways it is easier for an author to 'write from what they know,' as they're familiar with their own subculture. In some ways, though, it is <I>not</I> as easy to write what they know, unless they've taken the time to analyze their particular subculture, and to honestly consider what preconceptions are held, what values are held, etc. This, though, is in consideration of 'genuine' as opposed to 'authentic,' as I have distinguished the two above.<BR/><BR/>The complexity of this issue is part of what makes it difficult to judge works as they stand on their own (as to their degree of genuineness); to introduce concepts of authenticity into the discussion is to take the discussion out of the realm of literature and into the realm of censorship, race relations, sociology. If we do that, we must ask ourselves whether Truth is being served, or whether Truth should be stifled in the name of some other Good. If there is some higher Good, I certainly do not see it.David T. Macknethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03074123750929335716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-59223548088869375632008-02-14T02:11:00.000-08:002008-02-14T02:11:00.000-08:00Ooh, thanks for that Trisha -- I really love his w...Ooh, thanks for that Trisha -- I really love his work, and he truly has successfully navigated something that could be tricky for a lot of writers.<BR/><BR/>And I'm going to "out" a.fortis' comments, too:<BR/><BR/><I>It's a little hard to avoid white folks when you're reading literature written in English...[which] takes me back to your comment about the person at Mills who expected you to "represent" more. When you're expected to represent, it's awfully creativity-stifling--I'm not sure it's possible (it's surely not easy) to have an agenda that's about representing AND tell your own story. <BR/><BR/>I sort of feel this way...<I>history</I> should represent. Fiction should...<I>tell stories</I>. That's not to say these missions can't and don't overlap. And when you think about it, all fiction DOES represent--it represents the time and culture where it was written, regardless of how objective you try to be...just like history. It's really an impossible task, to objectively represent. And it's hard enough to just tell your own story and be honest about it without having to worry about the philosophy or sociology behind it. Those worries are a very slippery slope...</I><BR/><BR/><B>Truly</B>.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-72614529831392467532008-02-14T00:53:00.000-08:002008-02-14T00:53:00.000-08:00Thought I left a comment about this earlier, but m...Thought I left a comment about this earlier, but maybe it got eaten by the blog monster...<BR/><BR/>Forgot to mention that when I <A HREF="http://theyayayas.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/an-interview-with-graham-salisbury/" REL="nofollow">interviewed Graham Salisbury last year</A>, I asked him about this topic. I think, if there's one author who's proven that writing outside your race can be done successfully with both critics and young readers, it's him. He said, among other things, "I don’t worry about racial perspective when writing anymore. I’ve found that no matter what you do someone will complain."<BR/><BR/>TrishaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-64259650047654260772008-02-13T14:38:00.000-08:002008-02-13T14:38:00.000-08:00Hmm!Cloudscome,thank you for your comments. Some r...Hmm!<BR/>Cloudscome,thank you for your comments. Some random thoughts in return:<BR/><BR/>The word 'genuine' is a difficult one. <BR/><BR/>I can see your point about being tired of the world being written from the perspective of the dominant culture -- that's why Sherri and a. fortis and I are writing. BUT. As soon as one applies an entrance criteria - other than the work itself - as validation, you've introduced censorship.<BR/><BR/>I'm not writing to gate-keep. I'm writing to create worlds and people them with characters I enjoy and share them. I am not trying to be the African Greek Choctaw French American Ambassador. I can only share what worlds I inhabit, whether in my imagination or in reality.<BR/><BR/>I am not sure I agree with you about "multiple ethnicities (that you know of, and that influence you)." While I'm not a fan of cultural appropriation, I'm not sure the cultures have to have influenced you in order for you to write about them. Once again, there is no "authentic" African American or any other kind of minority experience but one's own. Do you also believe only women should limit themselves to writing female characters? If they're healthy, are they allowed to write a character with diabetes?<BR/><BR/>I had fun playing with the valentine's candies on your site. Mine said "Makes Stuff Up." That's the calling card of the writer. As I've always said to everyone, if you do cross cultures, genders, faiths, age, political ideologies, body types, IQ, etc., etc., etc., just create <I>characters</I>, not caricatures, and you'll be miles ahead of the game.<BR/><BR/>Don't you think so?tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-3482508933785541642008-02-13T12:10:00.000-08:002008-02-13T12:10:00.000-08:00Yoiks, genuine is such a sticky word. I've read p...Yoiks, genuine is such a sticky word. I've read plenty of authors who didn't manage to sound genuine when writing word for word their own expeiriences, and authors who managed to sound genuine writing about differentish people...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the great post!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-68631682750855567072008-02-13T11:52:00.000-08:002008-02-13T11:52:00.000-08:00As soon as I hit publish on that last comment I st...As soon as I hit publish on that last comment I started thinking of qualifiers and things to add...<BR/><BR/>If you are of multiple ethnicities (that you know of, and that influence you) then I guess you have to write from where you are. Maybe that means multiple experiences or totally unique perspectives...<BR/><BR/>We all have a unique experience. So if you are first generation, or third generation or whatever, you ought to start with what you know. <BR/><BR/>It just seems to me that if you are researching a culture you don't know intimately from your own life you are going to get some things wrong and miss some things. I'd rather read a good story coming from the author's own experience.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I want to read a life just like mine, and sometimes I want to see something completely new to me. But I want it all to be genuine.Andromeda Jazmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355192738014962965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-59755341869285963972008-02-13T11:46:00.000-08:002008-02-13T11:46:00.000-08:00This is a really great post. I appreciate the free...This is a really great post. I appreciate the freedom encouraged here. <BR/><BR/>But I have to admit I would still rather read a story featuring main characters that are People of Color and where the author was the same ethnicity as the main characters. Maybe that's my bias, but I think it's because for so long People of Color have been shut out of the publishing industry. <BR/><BR/>I am tired of reading books by white folks. I am white myself but I feel I've been blinded and my world has been kept narrow by our racism.<BR/><BR/>If we had a more balanced society where that weren't a force to confront I guess it wouldn't matter as much what ethnicity anyone wrote from...Andromeda Jazmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355192738014962965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-82141204015338073352008-02-13T11:34:00.000-08:002008-02-13T11:34:00.000-08:00I'm still just sittin' over here swooning about th...I'm still just sittin' over here swooning about the humanities. This was such a great chat, you all. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-46181083730046020772008-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:002008-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:00Amen, Trisha. Although it would be a good way to ...Amen, Trisha. Although it would be a good way to flush out all of the vampires! Seriously, thank you for your comments everyone. This is the forum of discussion I was talking about. It's great to see that people are actually thinking about these issues. Talking about them is even better. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-58415498080406185912008-02-12T17:18:00.000-08:002008-02-12T17:18:00.000-08:00This was a really, really great post. I enjoyed it...This was a really, really great post. I enjoyed it lots. Brava!<BR/><BR/>(btw, you don't need to enter me to win, I've already got a copy)Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15192628745431017199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-86735545250946812302008-02-12T17:10:00.000-08:002008-02-12T17:10:00.000-08:00Exactly, Trisha! Nicely put. It's funny, but when ...Exactly, Trisha! Nicely put. It's funny, but when you brought up historical fiction it reminded me that my husband really does not like historical fiction for just the reason you stated--for him, he says it's almost always going to be too anachronistic and he can't enjoy it! I see his point, but...I don't know. It starts to turn in to a philosophical slippery slope.Sarah Stevensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16534942492714970282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-658462755572064562008-02-12T16:54:00.000-08:002008-02-12T16:54:00.000-08:00Yes, thanks for sharing these perspectives. I'm no...Yes, thanks for sharing these perspectives. I'm not a writer, but "write what you are"? I've never understood that. To take that to an even more ridiculous length, I suppose that means only vampires could write vampire books, only werewolves can about werewolves, and absolutely no historical fiction because unless someone's got a supersecret time machine, how do they know what the era was really like? Plus, obviously there is no one Asian-American experience or African-American experience, etc. A non-Asian writer could very well write a novel that's truer to my life as a 4th generation Asian-American born and raised in Hawaii than a 1st or 2nd generation Asian American who was the only Asian kid in school or a person who was adopted from China. <BR/><BR/>TrishaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-87760752984581854372008-02-12T16:53:00.000-08:002008-02-12T16:53:00.000-08:00Don't have much to add--I think you guys covered i...Don't have much to add--I think you guys covered it all!Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-10654437711029415162008-02-12T14:21:00.000-08:002008-02-12T14:21:00.000-08:00This is a wonderful post. Thank you, Sherri. So th...This is a wonderful post. Thank you, Sherri. So thoughtful. Can't wait to read your books!mbpbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16081024119047826077noreply@blogger.com