When deciding on a setting leads to a never-ending wormhole of representation problems

[hearts_blood]

I have a dilemma.

I usually have two or three four or five WIPs going at any given time (that’s not a dilemma, it’s just a fact of life), and I would very much like to begin pre-production on a novel called Patience Goodwin. Here’s the short-short version:

A young Puritan woman tries to help free her stepbrother from his unholy love for a faery

Comments

[kdbleu]

I have many thoughts on this so I'll play

[hearts_blood]

Thank you for playing along! :)

Everyone seems to be leaning towards Puritan America, and that's where my own inklings are tending, so I think that is where it's going to be. A fantasy setting would be just as much work as a historical setting (trading research for world-building), and it would still be side-stepping the problems of the period in a way that strikes me as cowardly.

Thomas Jefferson (well, really we were discussing the Federalists) and Sally Hemmings came up and thus issue of consenting relationships.

I'm not sure if you're aware of the enormous angry kerfuffle that's been going on regarding the recent "romance" novel about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, but the whole notion of consent and sex and who has the power has been very much on my mind, as I contemplate how best to structure and present this book.

[kdbleu]

I'm not sure if you're aware of the enormous angry kerfuffle that's been going on regarding the recent "romance" novel about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings,

yes, I am. Also the uproar over the romance novel set in a Nazi concentration camp that ends with the Jewish woman converting. EW.

There are larger issues with consent in romanticized, literary relationships so I understand treading carefully. Because I think there is both a fascination with illicit relationship imbalances of power being a great source for that, and a lack of understanding how that plays into issues like consent. Knowing you're in a prickly position is more than half the battle because you're already thinking about how to make the relationship work.

[hearts_blood]

Also the uproar over the romance novel set in a Nazi concentration camp that ends with the Jewish woman converting. EW.

Yeahhh, I saw that as well... EWW.

I'm hoping that the framing of the initial relationship between Esther and Patience, and the growth of that relationship, will do away with the power imbalance they start out with.

Thank you for the encouragement! :)

[dragonbat2006]

I can't really help you directly, but I'm in a similar situation with a YA speculative novel I'm working on. One of my strong supporting characters is Ojibwe/Anishinaabe.

I've been doing some research, not only into Ojibwe culture but into the sorts of errors that can creep in when non-Native writers write Native characters.

I've tried reaching out via email to various tribal offices, Native student centers... I even joined Wordcraft Circle (and emailed the site director to introduce myself and explain why I'd joined; they do allow non-Native members). For the most part, I've either had no replies to my queries or some interest, but no real feedback

[hearts_blood]

Thank you so much! This was all extremely helpful! I've bookmarked all the links you suggested and will be looking into them as I work on my outline. :)

Your YA novel sounds delightful! I'm very eager to see you make progress with it. And your user icon is adorable. ♥

[dragonbat2006]

Awwww, thanks! It's going to need major condensing. I've got over 100 pages and I'm only 6 weeks into the school term. But that's for later. When the first draft is done.

[embolalia]

Interesting quandry. Like Kate I'm leaning toward Puritan America, but I can't really say why and part of it depends what type of agent/publisher you're thinking about if you're already planning that far ahead. I imagine they'd be very different for historical fiction v. fantasy.

Is it important to Esther's role that she be a servant? Could she be a student in a school where Patience or her father teach? The daughter of a member of the Puritan community and a Native American? Maybe there's some other role that she could play in the community without necessarily being a slave.

[hearts_blood]

Thank you for your thoughts

[hearts_blood]

Thank you for your input, K! ♥♥♥

Everyone seems to agree that colonial America is the way to go, and I’m very happy about that, as it’s a period that’s near and dear to my heart. Also, yay, an excuse to buy more history books and go on more road trips! *\o/*

I had to look up the word ‘Métis’ to be certain of the definition, as I’ve never heard that term used here. Unfortunately, at this period in colonial New England (maybe twenty years after the settlement at Plimoth was established), a person of mixed heritage would likely have been more shunned. The settlers would have regarded such a person with deep suspicion, and forget about wanting them in their homes. (I enjoy studying my colonial ancestors. I am, however, not especially proud of them.)

Thank you for the book recommendation! That definitely sounds like something I need to read, just for the heck of it. :D

[ecstaticdance]

I think that you can/do avoid the specific issue of a Magical Person Of Color by making it clear that Patience is a very powerfully magical person in her own right. Simply without either the training that Esther has, or the knowledge of the native spirits.

And I think that can also become part of your path toward creating an equal and consensual relationship between them - it's clear that they both have a lot to learn from each other.

But also, consider how you're portraying other people of color in the story, too. Because the Token Person Of Color is as problematic as the Magical Person Of Color. I imagine the native slaves/servants of Plymouth had a society and support structure of their own that would have been very important to Esther, even (especially?) if she had to socialize with them in secret