seven golden rules in one's right to write

[tielan]

"Some concerns" ≠ "never ever write this

Comments

[tashirasbubble]

I don't usually comment but I felt I had to in this case...

There is a lot of this attitude going round at the moment, don't know why it is has suddenly flared up so badly. Just the other day, A friend of mine was getting a bashing as they like/write John/Rodney.

Everyone has their own likes/dislikes.....my view, if you don't like it, don't read it and move on!!

After all, if it wasn't for the people that write fanfic - SGA would be dead and I for one would hate that!

I love your work and the work of other writers like yourself and I hope you don't change for anyone :)

*hug*

[tielan]

If you've seen a lot of posts like this lately, it's probably in reaction to two things: a SPN J2 fic set in Haiti that has some very problematic and racist portrayals of Haitians and a discussion about the hurt/comfort genre and appropriation of stories about injury, disability, and coping by ableist narratives.

I think it's important that I write what I want to write, but also that I'm careful to write with consideration and without Failing or adding to bad stereotypes. And if I do write something that I should be ashamed of, then to be called out on it and learn from the experience. To me, that's part of wanting to be a better writer as well as a better person.

[tashirasbubble]

Ahh! so that is where it came from...I was wondering - Thank you.

I have to say that I am in total agreement with you - It would be great if everyone took a page out of your book.

*hug*

[thelana]

I just don't get the freaking out of authors who feel critisized at all. It's the internet. There is always the option to shut the computer down, walk away and when you come back one week later chances are that everybody will have forgotten about you and moved on to the next drama

[thelana]

(btw, not that people *should* act like that, but just to point out that they can actually go through this pretty much untarnished while not changing one bit and not learning anything. And fandom likely won't care. So if this is one's goal and if somebody wants to skip the "facing one's privilege" or "learning something new" steps, they can still do that and likely will get off scott free)

[tielan]

I'll admit: I understand the 'freakout' reaction - I have a horror of it myself. I think, though, that I've been fortunate to keep going in spite of whatever mistakes I've made. I'm fairly certain some people will never forget when I was involved in this or that...but I can only change the minds of people about me by keeping going and getting better.

Although, it has to be noted that sometimes others bring the wankiness - it's not always because the author has done something.

I have seen people dogpile on someone after a BNF pretty much gave her minions free reign on someone who disagreed with her. Frankly, it's not pretty.

On the other hand, I've also seen people dig themselves a hole in the sewer pit, and even when there are crowds of people exhorting them to stop, they just keep digging.

This post was more about privilege and choosing not to ignore it, or promulgate it.

[thelana]

I guess it's my conviction that in situations like this, the person(s) in the middle of it are the ones who are least likely to change. But I do think that it's important to do it because once the issue is raised everybody who reads it is likely going to learn for it. So I guess why I agree that we as a community shouldn't ignore it I guess I don't find it surprising if it doesn't work with the person themselves (or that at the very least it will take a long time

[wneleh]

I agree with all of these; and yet, as I never have before, I find myself unable to write right now.

And I really thought I was over wanting to be a good little girl at the expense of everything else.

[tielan]

H/C bingo?

[wneleh]

Well, it's the h/c debate in general that I'm getting defensive about. You were talking about J2?

[tielan]

A bit of both, really. The accusations that the discourse and the debate are censoring others from writing what they really want to write.

[amenirdis]

Like the person above, I agree with you.

And yet I no longer post anything except fic publicly, and I admit I am actually frightened when I post something like the dark story yesterday and have to force myself to go ahead and do it. I'm not an easily frightened person. But there it is. My heart pounds and my hands sweat and I compulsively check my computer waiting for something terrible. There is it.

[wneleh]

Yup. Despite dozens and dozens of stories (and a lifetime of thinking about/discussing/living the issues I write about) and nary a complaint.

Whenever I respond to anything, though, it's, like, can I have my derailing bingo card now plz? Because I'm filling that baby up.

[tielan]

*hugs*

I know a little about that. I've done some things I'm still embarrassed about and feared going back into the pond; on the other hand, I feared more what would happen if I didn't go back in and take my second chance to change people's minds about me.

But I suppose that, sometime, there'll just have been enough, and I won't want to go back in, and fandom can kiss my (bare) arse. Maybe. :)

[wiliqueen]

Admirably clear, concise, and sensible.

I shall do my best to resist the cynical assumption that it will fall on ears as deaf as ever.

[tielan]

*hugs*

I won't say that fear's not a concern. Because it is. But there's fear of looking bad once, vs. fear of not being the person I want to be, and fear of not growing, and fear of never showing that I can do better.

There are plenty of times when I've been an idiot, showed my arse, said the wrong thing, done the stupid thing, got called out. On the other hand, I was more afraid of retiring and forever being "that person who showed her arse, she doesn't have anything good to say, she can't learn". NO.

I can't speak for others, although I hope they understand what I'm saying. This is just my guidelines. I don't always follow them (they're guidelines, not rules) but I think it's a good roadmap to have, even if you don't always take the main roads. :)

[wiliqueen]

But there's fear of looking bad once

Which is a much more driving force for many more people than I can easily wrap my head around. I try to remind myself of that when I get impatient, and am thankful that others are doing the engaging, because I... would probably not be helpful, 95% of the times I have the impulse to say something.

[tielan]

Oh, I also think that it's good that others do the engaging; mostly because I don't think I can answer without being bitchy - at least, not until I've rewritten something a dozen times first!