tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37083420.post8546949776486109494..comments2024-01-27T16:10:28.502-08:00Comments on Tara Maya's Tales: Writing and EmpathyTara Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37083420.post-7334063901768002462009-06-15T13:17:56.645-07:002009-06-15T13:17:56.645-07:00Interesting topic...
My thoughts:
1) Do you have...Interesting topic...<br /><br />My thoughts:<br /><br />1) Do you have to "preach?" No. But if it fits with you or your story: yes. If you are writing a story about a black girl in Alabama in the 1960s, it'd be stupid not to include race on some level in the story. But that may not fit at all with another story.<br /><br />2) Is truth more important than the lesson? Yes. Take Huckleberry Finn. It showed Jim and Huck's relationship in a very realistic fashion, without being terribly preachy. Many people don't get the lesson of that book.<br /><br />I guess it's the difference between intent. Compare Narnia--a very clear moral lesson, a very clear purpose behind the story. Something less subtle, perhaps, would be A Wrinkle in Time--the same lesson and purpose, but more subtle.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37083420.post-23725990204198770652009-06-15T12:07:10.010-07:002009-06-15T12:07:10.010-07:00I don't think it's possible to be neutral,...I don't think it's possible to be neutral, not if you're writing a story you care about. But I do think that it's better to ask a question than make a statement about theme. "Is this bad?" is easier to digest as a reader than "This is bad." I think.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37083420.post-38921331266112403482009-06-15T11:01:37.063-07:002009-06-15T11:01:37.063-07:00I just finished reading the Glass Castle, a memoir...I just finished reading the Glass Castle, a memoir by Jeannette Walls. It is interesting that you should write this because I was thinking just yesterday about how she portrayed homelessness. Her parents were homeless. She didn't portray it as a social evil, but as the fact of the matter-her parents wanted to be homeless, even though they could easily both go get jobs. Which would kind of go against the grain, but that is how it was in her life, and that is fact not fiction.Jessie Oliveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232456334069794107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37083420.post-42362876941636356292009-06-15T08:27:02.244-07:002009-06-15T08:27:02.244-07:00Nope. Un/fortunately, everything one says, writes,...Nope. Un/fortunately, everything one says, writes, draws, sings is gonna influence those around them ... positive or negative depends as much on the nature of the reciever, their current mood, biases and situation, as the author/artist what have you. One can only hope authors/artists are aware of this so they will make every effort to convey their 'message' in a responsible manner.Banhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15450115293974960761noreply@blogger.com