tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post2585684145087249474..comments2024-03-17T15:10:26.072-07:00Comments on Tony Laplume: IWSG January 2014Tony Laplumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-38017440828246583932014-01-15T06:40:43.793-08:002014-01-15T06:40:43.793-08:00I started writing this section of the book two day...I started writing this section of the book two days ago, and so officially moved past these concerns, in a way that was authentic to what I'd been doing with the last section, which is what's most important. Thanks for stopping by! And who knows? If when this book is released (in the year 3000), I will have the chance to interview actual Katrina survivors. I hadn't even thought of that, but the idea is also a little out of the scope of what I'm looking to accomplish here.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-69164994436743982292014-01-14T10:59:13.234-08:002014-01-14T10:59:13.234-08:00I found your post from Alex's IWSG (long-time ...I found your post from Alex's IWSG (long-time reader but I don't do the challenge). I totally get your hesitance and insecurity, but I hope you stay encouraged and keep on toward writing what sounds like a powerful story. I also write diverse characters because I think it matters. Authors think nothing of creating entirely new worlds and alien races, but we often balk at writing a character of a different nationality or race. Authenticity is a concern, but it sounds to me like you are on the right track with the resources you're using--Spike Lee's film for example. It will be on you to do the research to hear the voices you need to in order to write the story. I think it's the same as historical research, but you are also delving into cultural norms, and also stereotypes (so you can avoid them).<br /><br />I wrote a YA set in the early '60s which involved civil rights themes and a lot of what was going on politically at the time. The balance is that the story was not ABOUT those things but those things shaped the characters and everything they did. So while you need to understand the political challenges at the time so that your characters are reacting to those factors, I don't think it means your book needs to turn political. If that is funneled through your characters, you use their voice to convey those struggles. It's not easy... but I think it's worth it for a more captivating story.<br /><br />If you can interview actual survivors of Katrina I think that is also a great way to add authenticity to your work. Good luck!Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-38039803231561970112014-01-09T08:00:27.684-08:002014-01-09T08:00:27.684-08:00I have no idea when this story will be made public...I have no idea when this story will be made public. Theoretically I'm done self-releasing material. And the material I don't already have out there is a tough sell to publishers. I've been trying.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-47839315247281307382014-01-09T07:48:01.761-08:002014-01-09T07:48:01.761-08:00Tony - You are taking on a difficult task. The dep...Tony - You are taking on a difficult task. The depths you are willing to go to 'get into your character's head' will make for an even better story. I'm so interested to see how it will turn out. Good luck. Leanne ( http://readfaced.wordpress.com/ )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-76785432780477373362014-01-09T06:08:28.017-08:002014-01-09T06:08:28.017-08:00Where's those darn kids???Where's those darn kids???Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-86046719583007089342014-01-09T06:08:09.734-08:002014-01-09T06:08:09.734-08:00Well, a good writer is able to write different fac...Well, a good writer is able to write different facets of themselves...and theoretically there's a small part of yourself in everyone anyway.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-26842448222520242832014-01-08T08:52:34.309-08:002014-01-08T08:52:34.309-08:00Well the other side tries to blame Obama for every...Well the other side tries to blame Obama for every little thing so I guess we call it even. I think what turned people off was when he said the FEMA head was doing a huckuva job even as people were dying and the Superdome looked like a refugee camp from the third world. It was another of his bumbling moments like when he continued reading to kids while 9/11 was going down.<br /><br />And yes you can blame the polar vortex on him and his pro-pollution predecessors. Where's Captain Planet when you need him?PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-11837663347845003332014-01-08T08:49:55.167-08:002014-01-08T08:49:55.167-08:00I think we all end up having characters who may be...I think we all end up having characters who may be a struggle to identify with. If we wrote characters that were exactly like ourselves, it could get pretty boring. As long as you have a passion for it and do your research, you'll pull it off. <br /><br />Sarah<br />(January IWSG Co-host)Sarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-23562359819352510382014-01-08T07:20:37.416-08:002014-01-08T07:20:37.416-08:00Oh, he was clearly to blame for that!Oh, he was clearly to blame for that!Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051839363797869923.post-26189355657232997632014-01-08T07:16:10.505-08:002014-01-08T07:16:10.505-08:00It's something that's been with you a long...It's something that's been with you a long time, which means you've had time to think and plan. I think you can pull it off.<br />And I share your thoughts on what happened to Bush. Surprised no one has blamed him for the Artic Vortex yet.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com