The more complex and divisive our society becomes, the more dark corners are created. Authors and readers have an undying hunger to explore these subjects in books, film, and everyday conversation. But there is a right way to tackle these touchy subjects that is both titillating for readers and respectful to those who have experiences with taboo. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
Don’t Overextend.
It seems that a few times every year we’re addressing a high-profile author who has written a character way out of their depth to the point of racism, sexism, homophobia, and all other manners of hatred or fear. In the case of some of these authors, it is clearly an act of malice toward marginalized communities. But often writers can simply go too far beyond their own knowledge base because they want to write a character that appears cool or pushes the boundaries of diversity.
The answer is straightforward: don’t overextend yourself to address taboo subjects or characters even if you mean to paint them in a positive light. You may distort them in a way that hurts others. Do I think this means we should only be reading #OwnStories? Absolutely not. Being able to imagine beyond your own experiences is paramount to extending empathy in literature and real life. But you should probably have spent more than a day with someone who identifies as transgender before trying to write them into your novel.
Don’t Precipitate.
Two huge parts of what makes it fun to write taboo are that you’re playing with socially constructed fire and there isn’t yet a lot of material on the subject. But this is also what can make it difficult to write taboo effectively.
Fortunately for us, we write in an internet age where personal experiences of people from all walks of life are readily available through social media, forums, and blogs. Working with taboo means you’re shaping language for readers to use in their own lives as they address these same considerations. Novels are one of the best places in our society to do this because we have permanence, space, and time to carefully consider language that is affirming and functional. Take advantage of it. Don’t be glib because you don’t want to take the time to learn it.
Don’t Back Down.
It can feel a bit overwhelming the kinds of responsibility that come with writing taboo subject matter. If it isn’t a principal portion of your story, it may feel like it’s too much to take on. But there is a reason you were drawn to the taboo, and it’s likely to enhance your story. And even minor acknowledgements of changing culture can make a huge push for marginalized communities.
Take the time to have conversations with people whose life stories intersect with your novel not only in the parts where you’re considering the taboo but also as a whole. This is a particularly good use of your beta readership. Build a network of readers that will help you succeed at writing a good manuscript in every aspect to bring thoughtful literature to your community.
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