[identity profile] mbarker.livejournal.com
Writing Excuses 6.15: Writing Other Cultures

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2011/09/11/writing-excuses-6-15-writing-other-cultures/

Key points: approach it with integrity, authenticity, and research. Beware the homogenous culture -- remember the Klingon belly dancer! Ultimately, we are all human. Don't write to the stereotype or to the average. Do the research, wed it to an understanding of people, and build interesting characters who feel right. Give them something else to care about, something else at stake. A character whose identity is "The Other" has no identity.
which word did I leave out? )
[Brandon] We are out of time. But... Lauren, here's something we do to guests, and I'm going to do it to you.
[Lauren] Oh, dear God.
[Brandon] Yes, I know. But we're going to ask you for a writing prompt. If you can think of one. You just have to come up with something that people could write a story about. Just ask them a question or some concept. Make them do.
[Lauren] Take some aspect of your neighborhood. Twist it around in the same kind of way that district 9 twisted a suburb of Soweto around.
[Brandon] Okay. That's a great one. Thank you for being on the podcast, and thank you all for listening. You're out of excuses, now go write.
[Applause]
[identity profile] mbarker.livejournal.com
Writing Excuses Season Four Episode Eight: Working with Editors

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/28/writing-excuses-4-8-working-with-editors/

Key points: New authors worry about editors demanding cuts that threaten artistic integrity, or being asked to add in sex and violence. However, editors buy a book because they like it, not to fix it. They usually tell you before buying what their vision of the book is, and you don't have to agree. They may suggest that you've established a certain type of book, and that you cut or add things to match that. Relationships with editors are a dialogue, where you can talk it through. Publishing houses and editors will ask for changes. Your job is to think about them and decide whether or not to do them. Look for an editor with a vision that is consistent with yours. Talk to the editor before you sign the contract about what you are willing to sacrifice, what you're willing to cut or add to get published. BUT don't worry too much about this. Editors buy books because they like them, because they agree with the vision of the book -- not to torture writers. Consider it, plan on working with an editor, and write.
Undoing the clean rating... )
[Brandon] All right. Can we have a writing prompt? Let's have you write a story about a time where an author and editor disagree about something that no one else would ever disagree about. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.

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