"I am very much offended by your overall tone. You have little positive to say about the country and its people, and rattle off one sarcastic remark or insult after another. It is seldom that I will see the word "retarded" in a published work, for example. [Re: Motorcycling in China by Carla King]
Should I (or writers in general) censor a memoir in the traverse experience and realization growing in the narrative arc of a story? I decided that I wanted the reader to experience that with me, and took the risk.
Your thoughts about relating negative experiences/thoughts in a non-fiction narrative, or the use of the word "retarded" or other possibly "offensive" words. (And were you as horrified as I was that NewSouth Books removed the word nigger from Huckleberry Finn?)
Below is a link to the piece. By the way, Travelers' Tales: China is a wonderful resource for anyone planning to go there, or curious about the country, as are all of their collections:
Motorcycling in China by Carla King, from Travelers Tales: China
Honesty, candor, truth… It’s got to be one of the hardest parts of writing. You’re not just writing for yourself, but also for your audience. I’m personally such a foul-mouthed, crude, d-bag that I feel I can’t write the way I am. I expect my family, in-laws, friends and co-workers to happen across this stuff. It’d almost be easier to run under a pseudonym.
How do I stay true to my stories and not force my writing? I don’t know that I do. I try, maybe I need to try harder. I think it’s good to piss a few people off if that’s who you are – so long as what you’re putting out isn’t trite, ignorant shock-jock garbage. That doesn’t seem like who you are.
Brady
Behind Bars – Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com/
I wouldn’t use that word if it was referring to individuals. But if it was referring to procedures, arbitrary rules and regulations then it is perfectly acceptable. I would agree that you shouldn’t self censor your writing especially if it is your style.
This would be a work of fiction if you were to filter your thoughts and write what the PC police want you to write.
I’ve heard lately that the word “retard” is falling out of favor. If you were to refer to an actual mentally handicapped person as a “retard,” I’d be offended. You didn’t. People are too sensitive these days.
Let them bitch, Carla.
It is indeed a difficult task to decide whether to write what you honestly think, or to write what is palatable to the reader. Ultimately, I think that any work of art, be it writing, music, etc., has to come from the heart. If you wrote what was in your heart, you will be fine. Not everyone will like it, but that’s okay. Don’t worry too much about it: “You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Be Honest and don’t censor! It was your experience. Sure, it won’t be everyone’s experience. But not everyone can have YOUR experience.
I think I’m paraphrasing Eleanor Roosevelt ‘Other people’s opinion of me is none of my business’.
Pull down quotes from this first lady and see a very self-actualized human being. I think we should head in her direction, Carla–we’re already on our way from the feedback.