Personal Perspective: Is imposter syndrome an occupational hazard for writers who must accurately observe others in order to create believable characters?
The obsession with "cultural appropriation" subverts a key tool in creative writing.Source: Copyright Fumiste Studios, used by permission
This is no casual thing. Sometimes, when writing from a character's point of view in a café, I have noticed people staring, and realized my body was enacting the movements my character was making in the story, leaning in to argue, falling back to dodge a blow; that's how deeply I was inhabiting the person in question. In my novels, I have been a working-class Cape Cod fisherman and a bourgeois French war reporter.
This is why the current fad against"cultural appropriation" is a frontal attack on the novelist's profession, which is to switch identities as fully as we are capable of no matter what the fictional character's background might be. Comparing differences in personal character between two almost infinitely complex human minds, as opposed to contrasting cultural or gender-based dissimilarities between people, feels like comparing the Grand Canyon to a storm drain.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A Personal Perspective: Writing as an art form.A Personal Perspective: Writing as an art form.
Read more »
Personal Perspective: Mastering effective listening.Unlock the secrets of effective listening with repetitive speakers. Explore how understanding emotions, engagement, and guiding conversations can spur personal growth for speakers.
Read more »
A Personal Perspective: Depression could actually be the first step of your journey to wholeness.A Personal Perspective: By changing your relationship to depression, you can move forward with newfound energy and purpose.
Read more »
Personal Perspective: Becoming self-aware of our triggers makes for healthier relationships.Personal Perspective: Even the healthiest relationships can trigger the emotional wounds of our past, causing us to feel scared, distrustful, or afraid of abandonment.
Read more »
Personal Perspective: Believing in others can have a powerful impact on well-being and success.Believing in others transcends liking them or helping them out of obligation. Here are some suggestions for nurturing these transformative relationships.
Read more »
Personal Perspective: Finding peace in a chaotic world.Personal Perspective: Choosing not to engage, letting go of the need to always be right, and focusing on our blessings is a healthier way to navigate interactions with strangers.
Read more »