Those Controversial Things - Comments

Although I prefer not to read about physical and mental illnesses when the plot is based around them, I think people can write about whatever they want. I believe that writers should approach such subjects with appropriate respect, care, and research if/when necessary, but the fact is that not everyone is going to do that. I see no sense in getting mad over things we can't control, which in this case are what others write about and how well or appropriately they write about it.

I think people can write about whatever they want to write about provided they're not hurting anyone.
So, like, don't write fan fiction if you're gonna send it to the subject/their family and friends.
Don't write about the people you know unless they're comfortable with it.

I still don't know how I feel about trigger warnings when it comes to controversial stories. As much as I understand that some people need them, where is the line drawn? I've seen some strange trigger warnings for things that, surely, a reader could consciously avoid and other trigger warnings for things that you wouldn't think would need one at all (I saw one for "food" on Tumblr once). I feel like they ruin the suspense of the story for those that don't need them because you're essentially giving away the plot and if it's a warning that doesn't give away the plot then it was probably something that was obvious from the story description and shouldn't need mentioning. I don't know.

In some ways, writing about mental illnesses without experience is a bit problematic. If you haven't experienced it, you're more prone to promote the romanticization of mental illnesses in your writing. I've seen it a lot and it's offensive as hell. Not only mental illnesses, but physical illnesses as well. Cancer, for one. I know it's a really unpopular opinion to think this way, but when you're reading a book and someone that has no idea what they're talking about is writing about something you actually suffer from, and they get it all wrong, and they fantasize the hell out of it, it sucks. The only accurate representations I've seen have been from people who actually suffered from the illness they're writing about. I mean, obviously anyone has the right to write what they want, but that doesn't mean that what they write won't be offensive or irritating.

Like others have said before, I believe that any writer has the potential to and can write about any subject that they want. Research is always a plus, but I know that some writers, maybe in the beginning of their writing career, don't do as much research as they should, but they can still write about whatever they want.

I feel like saying that if you haven't experienced, then you can't write it, in that logic, can also apply to historical fiction. Authors of novels like that have never experienced what it's like to live in that time period, so they shouldn't be allowed to write about it. It seems like the same logic to me, without the controversial things.

I feel like people should be allowed to write what they want, and people need to remember that an author's stories don't always reflect their personal views. It seems like sometimes people forget that and see someone writing on a particular topic and take it as a personal attack.

I write about relationships all the time, but I've only ever been in a couple and have never been through a terrible break-up. Does that mean I shouldn't be allowed to write about them?

You know what I mean?

Personally, there are some subjects that I feel are better left untouched. Rape and domestic violence is a big one for me. Not that I like to pretend those things don't happen. But if you can't approach it with an appropriate level of respect and compassion than I think you should steer clear. It makes my blood boil to see that happen in a story and the abuser/rapist just has to apologize with tears in his eyes and everything is fine and dandy. Real life isn't like that. It takes years to heal those wounds and they never completely go away and certainly not the degree where you can fall head over heels, happily ever after in love with said abuser.

I think that as long as someone does the research, they can write about anything. I know I personally write about rape and other realistic things that happen in life. These things may not have happened to me but I do the research. Yeah there are some unrealistic things in my stories like items that I sooo wish were part of our existence but aren't. But I think it should be up to each writer to write what they want to and how they do so.

I totally agree. It's also important to remember to separate a writer from their writing. I could write a story right now glorifying bulimia, that doesn't mean I have experience with the disorder or actually believe it should be glorified.