Although creating fiction from outside one's own neighborhood might be difficult, it does not mean that fiction writers should give up. It will, however, need a significant amount of study, cultural consulting, and self-awareness.
Cultural sensitivity is important for any writer who wishes to avoid offense or alienation. But especially for non-native writers, it is vital. Non-native speakers risk language embarrassment when they fail to express themselves clearly or inaccurately, and writers would do well to pay attention to such issues.
The best way to avoid offense is to remain aware of what parts of your culture are open to public discussion and what isn't. For example, if you use an ethnic character in your story, it is advisable to research the individual ahead of time to make sure that they are not based on someone who has been widely criticized in your society for their actions.
Finally, consider how your own values affect your writing. Are you more likely to portray people from your culture in a positive light or a negative one?
Writing about actual individuals is always dangerous; writing about genuine and awful occurrences involving people who may be recognized is a huge decision. It might have terrible consequences. That isn't to suggest you shouldn't try. Write what you feel.
Reading like a writer will help you grasp how the writing process is a series of choices, which can help you notice crucial decisions you may encounter and approaches you may wish to apply while working on your own writing.
The more aware you are of these processes, the better you'll be able to control them; therefore, reading like a writer is important for writers of all levels. It's also helpful for teachers who want to understand their students' work more deeply.
Writing is an art form that requires inspiration and creativity. But it is also a science that involves using logic and reason to solve problems and advance ideas. To do both well, we need clear thinking and strong language. That's where reading like a writer comes in. By understanding the choices made by great writers, you can learn how to make your own.
Ten Pointers for Writing Race in Novels
The writer recognizes when his or her personal experience and cultural background have impacted his or her writing. It is also more easier for an author to write on anything related to their own history or cultural heritage. However, when they do so, it makes the story more authentic and believable.
For example, an Indian author who has never left India would not be able to write about life in America because they have no reference point from which to draw information. On the other hand, if this author wanted to write about life in India, they could look to their own experiences as a guide. In this case, the story would be more authentic if some details were changed around to fit with what could be learned from books or people outside of India such as Americans.
In conclusion, an author's cultural and historical background affects their writing. If an author can understand their own culture and history, it will make learning about others easier.
Because authenticity is the key to most effective writing, it's natural to find inspiration in real circumstances and discussions. Overheard speech is a common source of inspiration for fiction writers. It can be as simple as what someone else says or does, but also includes more subtle details not heard by others but evident to those who know you well.
For example, when my son was young, he had a habit of saying "dog" whenever he wanted a cookie. One day after we had been out shopping he returned home with a dog cookie in his hand. I knew immediately what had inspired him to write this story, and it didn't take a literary genius to figure out which part of our day was more important to him at that moment: cookies or grammar lessons. In this case, both came first.
As another example, let's say your friend talks about how she hates working on projects with other people. You think about this conversation all week long while you work on your own project, and by the time you meet up with her again you have an idea for a story where two friends' projects collide. This source of inspiration is called "sympathy writing" because you are writing characters who are familiar to you and using their actions or conversations to generate ideas.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Authors Cast Inc.
