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Writing about difficult subject matters
I was just wondering how you guys deal with writing things that are a little uncomfortable to talk/write about?
One of my main characters is very racist. I'm aware that his feelings are the feelings of one of my characters, not my own, but it makes me feel quite uncomfortable to write some of the things he wants to say - almost like I'll be judged for it, if that makes sense?
Another of my characters has been raped in the past, and that is going to need to be discussed at some point to make sense of another apart of the story, and I'm just not sure how to approach that either.
Does anybody else struggle with writing about certain things?
Comments
You will be judged for what you write. People won't assume you're racist just because one character is - unless he's the hero and never comes to regret his actions.
Remember that some subjects will be as hard to read as they are to write.
Another thing that's hard to write is violence, which I hate personally but is sometimes necessary to my plot. If it makes me cringe when I read it later then I think I've probably got it right.
It's like writing sex scenes: you've got to be the characters, making their moves - doesn't mean you do the same at home! Immerse yourself in the scene you're creating, and leave the real world behind. That's why we do what we do!
Mrs Bear - I wish I had your gift for putting things so elegantly and succinctly
Just do it. That is the point. You are creating a different world and you can't be self-conscious about it.
Yesh, read TN's lips - jush do it.
*exits*