Writer's Fallout Shelter

Jessie, my mind immediately went to the "write what you know" thing, too. Many people who have studied literature and writing, but never delved too deeply into it know that axiom. As a result, they seem to assume that any writing that gets into the personal psyche of the characters is about the writer.

I was just involved in a discussion on the Chronicles SF forum where someone stated that you can only write characters that reflect your own feelings about something or the opposite. Nothing more. As part of the discussion, I made the sarcastic comment that yes, I really was a highly trained soldier, skilled in assassinations, guerilla warfare, poisons, who lived in space and was willing to kill children to achieve my goals. Of course the assumptions started about what I believed and thought and therefore what my character must believe and thought. [NOTE: The only information they have was the comment yes, I really am a highly trained soldier, skilled in assassinations, guerilla warfare, and poisons, who lives in space and am willing to kill children to achieve my goals. No context from the story. None of my actual opinions on the matter. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip.]

Another time, I wrote a story for a workshop about a lesbian who gets outted to her family while in bed with her lover. Of course, it was assumed that I was a lesbian who was afraid to be outted or had faced an embarrassing situation like that.

What it comes down to is, many people don't understand how far research and speculation can take you. They're always going to be out there. People who have studied somewhat, but have never taken that extra step outside of writing thinly veiled memoirs of self. I personally don't know any solutions to the problem other than rolling my eyes and sighing mightily. I'm good at that.


Good to see you, Jessie.