In a recent writers’ group meeting, we discussed writing fiction and the value (or otherwise) of the writing dictum: “write what you know”.
A new member, who’s a new author, posed a question. She’s writing an American Civil War novel, inspired by Gone With The Wind… and a family diary.
“Does that mean,” she asked, “that since I didn’t live in those times, and have no ancestors who were enslaved, I can’t write my novel?”
It’s an excellent question. Terms like “cultural appropriation” make novelists nervous. Then, whether they’re aware of it or not, they censor their creativity. When they get an idea for a novel, or a fictional character, they censor themselves in case someone, somewhere, objects.
Fiction writing: should you only write what you know?
It turned out that our new group member was writing what she knew. She’s basing her novel on the diary of a woman who’s an ancestor, and did live through the American Civil War.
However, the fact that she asked the question and was obviously concerned chilled me.
Do we censor ourselves when we write fiction?
Do you censor your imagination?
Our discussions became heated. Some of our group staunchly maintained that they’d stop writing if they were forced to censor themselves.
Others thought that these authors were overly dramatic. One author said: no one asked writers to censor their imagination.
I looked around online, and found an interesting article, Whose life is it anyway? Novelists have their say on cultural appropriation:
“Of course fiction writers can write whatever they want, no matter their backgrounds… But here’s the thing: you have to try to do it well.”
I think that’s the key: trying to do it well.
Our new author and friend doesn’t have anything to worry about.
Please comment—if you’re a writer, do you censor yourself?
Tara’s Enchantment – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 1
A Regency time travel romance... What if you could escape across time, and find your soulmate?
Pure evil dispatches gorgeous Tara Ballantine across the centuries, to Regency England. Tara lands on Adam Jervoise, Earl of Hillingworth -- literally -- as he's riding through a bluebell wood.
Hillingworth is handsome, rich, and kind. He's also set to propose to an heiress.
When Tara realizes that she's falling in love with the earl, she fights the feeling.
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At 24, not only is Molly Ballantine stunning, she has two sisters she loves, and a wonderful career. Then her eldest sister Tara vanishes, and her life disintegrates.
Molly's life is about to become even more chaotic. She wakes up in a brothel with a man who's too good-looking for her peace of mind.
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22-year-old Priscilla Ballantine wakes up 200 years in the past, naked in the arms of handsome aristocrat, and master spy, Dominick de Roche, Lord Bellemieux. Priscilla's accused of spying, and is in danger of summary execution. She can't help thinking that she wouldn't be in such a mess if Dominick de Roche hadn't mistaken her for one of his contacts...
More info →Escape Across Time: Tara, Molly, & Priscilla (Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy)
Love time travel romances and the Regency era?
More info →Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash