Should You Write Outside Your Culture?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 9:59AM by guest blogger Candid Brandon
Writers have the gift of making stories come to life through creativity and imagination. It is this gift that allows them to be creatively boundless. Writers’ inquisitive natures can lead them to be fascinated by other cultures and moved to write about them. Many things can trigger these fascinations like travels, personal relationships, books, movies, and other random encounters. Fascination can then turn into the desire to write about a culture outside their scope. Writers writing outside their cultures has long been an important debate in the children’s literature field. Questions come up such as: is it wrong to write outside your culture? What are the precautions you have to take? Why would you want to write outside your culture? These are honest and valid questions to ask. There are plenty of examples of writing outside your culture gone wrong; however, there are many great examples as well. So the question still remains, should people write outside their own culture? I say, yes! It is needed. Many untold stories would not be heard if it weren’t for people writing outside their culture. But there is a tremendous amount of personal shedding, responsibility, care, and research that an author must and should take if they are going to plunge into this territory of writing. Remember these two words “authentic” and “accurate. As you write, you should constantly ask yourself if you are being accurate and authentic.
Here are some specific thoughts to consider as you prepare to write about a culture outside your own.
- Research
Research is essential. Research the culture, watch videos and movies, view pictures and art work. Immerse yourself in the culture so that you can depict it accurately and authentically.
- Shed
Shed what you think you know about the culture, personal perceptions, and bias. As difficult as that may be, it needs to happen so you can write with a genuineness that is evident within the pages.
- Language
Books can be flawed by lack of attention to language detail. If it is a period piece of writing, it needs to mimic language of that particular period. Use words correctly, especially if you’re writing words of another language. Be careful of how you use words, such as words outside cultural beliefs like religious words or phrases. Over use of slang or dialect can seem inauthentic. Be sure to choose your words wisely.
- Names
Spend some time on developing character names. Difficult names are very confusing and frustrating for readers. However, accurate and authentic names indigenous to the culture and time period are important to your writing. Find uncomplicated alternatives for names so that they are easier to read and remember.
- Setting
Be sure to be accurate of time zones, landscapes, architecture, nature, and wildlife. For example, tigers aren’t found in Africa (they are native to Asia); illustrations or text reflecting that would be inaccurate.
- Find Helpers
The Internet can connect you to people who can help you learn about the culture you wish to write about. Utilizing people of the culture, professors, museum curators, other authors on the subject, and any other expert can help you bring your multicultural story to life accurately and authentically!
BIO: Candid Brandon is a guest blogger at Book Bridge Press. Candid has an M.A. in Children’s Literature from Eastern Michigan University and a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University. She loves reading children’s books and is proud of it! Candid has a special interest in multicultural children’s literature because she cares deeply about how different cultures and people are portrayed in books for children. Despite Candid’s special interest, she is a major advocate for literacy and getting ALL good books into the hands of ALL children! You can find her teaching creative movement to very active preschoolers and writing her own blog, Children Kissed by the Sun (childrenkissedbythesun.blogspot.com).
