We had a lively discussion in class today about writing outside of one's experience. Of course this is something every writer will need to do or else their writing will grow incestuous and result in dull-witted prose. We talked about writing from the perspective of a character outside of our race, and I mentioned that that is all I know how to do right now. I've read so many books, seen so many movies and television shows where the protagonists are white that it is difficult for me to write a story without seeing said characters in my head as white men and women. It sucks and I'm working on it.
What's even more difficult, believe it or not, is to write outside of one's class. I'm writing a story now that has a kid who is growing up in a middle-upper class environment. I don't know from that. I'm making it up as I go along because I can't be bothered with research, not for a first draft. So I think "What would my life have been like if I had a lot more money?" and the answer comes back, "It would be the same, except I'd have more stuff."
That's the only tactic I've got right now. Man oh man getting into this writing thing for the past 20 years, I think I might have made a horrible mistake.
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