Roots and Limitations
by Charlotte Bennardo
The theme this month is 'rooted'. For over a week, I've been 'rooted' in my bedroom/en suite because of a right hip replacement. My world was limited to how far I could use my walker between bedroom, bathroom, and my office (all on the same floor). The same path, trod over and over, was my world.
Now in week two, I can slowly, carefully, negotiate stairs. I took a walk on the driveway and into my backyard. My world has expanded; I'm no longer rooted in the same, small, circular path.
And writing is like that. We are rooted in our beliefs, our style, our interests. We must continually expand our narrow paths by including diverse characters, new insights, and updated information. What was true in Mark Twain's time when he wrote Huckleberry Finn is no longer true today: using slang terms for people of color is unacceptable, as well as the racism, although it was acceptable in its time. The presence of the language has kept the book on the banned list for decades. What was true for Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon written in 1874- a moon landing by shooting people in a giant cannon- would be met with laughter now. In comparison, The Martian by Andy Weir, which is about an astronaut stranded on Mars, incorporates modern technologies, although it does take some fictional liberties (there are no windstorms on Mars capable of what caused astronaut Mark Watney's situation). There had to be extensive research, something Verne couldn't do.
Likewise, our styles have to change. Now, an author can't simply sit in a cold garret room and write in the same manner over their career--they need to move with times, conditions, social norms, and for their own growth. I have worked on being able to write in different points of view, sharpened my dialogue, tried to either streamline or add background, backstory, and inner voice (interiority) as dictated by the needs of the manuscript and to appeal to both readers and editors/agents.
So instead of being stubbornly steadfast--rooted--in one spot, we should, and must, as career writers, step out and explore and utilize new methods, styles, insights, research, and approaches.
Short post this month, but I need to stretch the legs then explore and utilize a nap. See you next month.
Charlotte writes MG, YA, NA, and adult novels in sci fi, fantasy, contemporary, and paranormal genres. She is the author of the award-winning middle grade Evolution Revolution trilogy, Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She co-authored the YA novels Blonde OPS, Sirenz, and Sirenz Back in Fashion. She has two short stories in the Beware the Little White Rabbit (Alice through the Wormhole) and Scare Me to Sleep (Faces in the Wood) anthologies. Having finished her MFA, she's applying what she learned and is working on several children's and adult novels, along with some short stories. She lives in NJ with her family and her floofy cat. When they trimmed the backyard tree, the crazy squirrel couple had to move out, but she is happy to report she has a new squirrel tenant.
100% true. You've GOT to keep growing.
ReplyDelete