Uncomfortable

reenkam · Aug 19, 2007

A lot of people mention how they feel uncomfortable writing about certain things, but I can't think of a time I've ever felt that way. So I was wondering about topics that people might feel uncomfortable writing about, and maybe why. You don't have to say why if you're not comfortable, of course.

EriRae · Aug 19, 2007

I look fear and discomfort square in the eye when I write. If I'm too comfortable with something, I'm not going to explore it as well as I would if I was out of my comfort zone.

I used to be a squeamish reader when I was younger, but it wasn't the subject that made me uncomfortable, but the way it was written. I remember a John Saul (I think) novel's description of French-kissing that made me gag :x But then I read Stephen King, who can describe just about anything from blood spilling to steamy sex with finesse.

Zoombie · Aug 19, 2007

I used to get red eared and look furtively over my shoulder when writing sex.

Used too.

Claudia Gray · Aug 19, 2007

I sometimes feel uncomfortable when writing about someone of a different racial/cultural background, because I want to write about all kinds of characters, to find all those voices if I can. I am wary of getting it wrong. But I'd rather get it wrong a few times and try to learn better than simply write only about middle-class white Americans forever and always.

I don't feel uncomfortable writing about sex, though I do sometimes when I think about my parents maybe reading the scenes someday. But I figure if I haven't written the scene in a way that should mortify my parents, I haven't done it right.

wayndom · Aug 19, 2007

This is completely different from what you're talking about, but I just finished a dystopian novel that takes place in 2048, just 41 years from now. The mess that is America in the novel is the result of numerous forces, one of them being George Bush's decision to wage a war while cutting taxes on corporations and the rich. Also the rewriting of bankruptcy laws, making it nearly impossible for citizens to escape crushing debt.

The uncomfortable part came whenever my writing started sounding partisan. Because although I despise the Republican party, the awful future I envision is also the result of bi-partisan actions (NAFTA and similar "globalizations"). Also, I wanted the book to be a cautionary tale, not partisan finger-pointing.

I guess part of my reason is also that while I always vote Dem, it's usually as the lesser of two evils, and I certainly don't regard the Dem party as having all the answers.

So I really backed off from blaming the Republicans in areas where they richly deserve blame, and I think the book is stronger for it.

~grace~ · Aug 19, 2007

I have the mother-on-the-shoulder problem. In the back of my mind when I write is always the question:

"Would you read this out loud to your mother?"

If the answer is "no," I feel awkward/uncomfortable. The "no"s include but are not limited to: sex, excessive violence, torture/rape, my MC being rude to her stepmother.

I do not know why I have this problem. But there ya go. :Shrug:

Azraelsbane · Aug 19, 2007

I used to feel really uncomfortable writing sex scenes...

I got over that real quick.

~grace~ · Aug 19, 2007

ClaudiaGray said:
I sometimes feel uncomfortable when writing about someone of a different racial/cultural background....

My MC is black. I am not. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when writing her, but it's more concern with how people will react when (if ever) they read my novel.

So I guess my conclusion is that I'm not really uncomfortable with writing things, it's thinking about the reaction I might get that bothers me...hmm...I should probably go find a backbone somewhere....

kristie911 · Aug 19, 2007

I'd like to say nothing bothers me but actually nothing used to bother me.

But since I had my son, I can't write about a child being abused or hurt. I just can't. Nor do I care to read it.

wayndom · Aug 19, 2007

alternatefish said:
I have the mother-on-the-shoulder problem. In the back of my mind when I write is always the question:

"Would you read this out loud to your mother?"

If the answer comes back, "Yes," ask yourself, how many copies can mom afford to buy?

JLCwrites · Aug 19, 2007

Its weird, for some odd reason, I am having a much easier time writing gory stuff than reading it. (There is no way I can read Stephen King and be able to sleep at night!)

I don't think I could feel comfortable writing anything that involves math, physics, or any other subject I am not an expert at.

Which is probably why I write fantasy. Complete artistic license!

~grace~ · Aug 19, 2007

wayndom said:
If the answer comes back, "Yes," ask yourself, how many copies can mom afford to buy?

good point!

hah! take that, mom-demon! :Hammer:

javili · Aug 19, 2007

Much of my work, especially up until a few years ago, involved writing about the narcotics agriculture, harvest, sales, transport, trans-shipment and enforcement industry...the largest source of income in my state. The second being money shipped back from workers in the United States.
It got me my start to being a sort of star, and like everything else in my life came from my athletic career because narcos are real hero-worshippers.

Trouble is, that can turn around fast. Ask Roberto Duran. These guys kill journalists. A lot of us, actually. So you never know. Being a party with them is like being at an orgy with tigers or something. One minute they're laughing and eating, the next minute...well, aren't you meat, too?

So I walk on a very thin rail above a very deep drop. My stories are like a path through a mindfield, but the readers don't see that because the mines are invisible. So it gets uncomfortable. Twice in my career some guy who scares the shit out of me told me I should watch my step in certain directions. That was REALLY uncomfortable.

Fortunately, I moved over into politics (my tolerance for filth got better) instead of just sports and drugs. Of course politicians kill journalists, too. But not as quickly.

Anyway, I got fired. And am too old to support my appetite for foreign women by playing baseball anymore. Though I saw Hermosillo play last night and think I could make the team. So I'm out of work... but feel pretty comfortable.

Ravenlocks · Aug 19, 2007

Like some of you others, I write whatever I want, but some of it will make me cringe if the relatives decide to read it.

JoNightshade · Aug 19, 2007

I actually consider it my writerly ambition to make both my characters and my readers uncomfortable. Not in the sense of gore or violence or anything disgusting... but emotional discomfort. I love putting characters and readers in difficult situations, little tough spots where nobody knows quite what to do. Things that make you wince and empathize with the character who happens to be stuck.

Example: One of my MC's thinks of another MC as his father, but the "father" is so closed and uptight that the son could NEVER ever express his feelings out loud. But then one night at dinner the word "Dad" slips out. And they both sit there staring at each other. Oh CRAP. Now what do you say? What do you do?

I LOVE those situations.

Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX · Aug 19, 2007

wayndom said:
This is completely different from what you're talking about, but I just finished a dystopian novel that takes place in 2048, just 41 years from now. The mess that is America in the novel is the result of numerous forces, one of them being George Bush's decision to wage a war while cutting taxes on corporations and the rich. Also the rewriting of bankruptcy laws, making it nearly impossible for citizens to escape crushing debt.

The uncomfortable part came whenever my writing started sounding partisan. Because although I despise the Republican party, the awful future I envision is also the result of bi-partisan actions (NAFTA and similar "globalizations"). Also, I wanted the book to be a cautionary tale, not partisan finger-pointing.

I guess part of my reason is also that while I always vote Dem, it's usually as the lesser of two evils, and I certainly don't regard the Dem party as having all the answers.

So I really backed off from blaming the Republicans in areas where they richly deserve blame, and I think the book is stronger for it.

Xx|Funny, my sci-fi-in-progress, Epsilon, is similar. It's just, well, reversed. it's only five years or so in the future, and what happened was a dem was elected in '08 and pulled out of the war, thereby inviting the enemy in, basically. World-wide nuclear bombing later, the human race is quickly facing extinction. An eccentric bio-scientist is their only hope. He emerges with oodles of biological research and develops a sub-human race to repopulate the world, and also bring the next generation to a new "evolutionary" level.

Which will in part be awkward to write. The scientists have five experiments (Epsilon being the fifth and first "successful" one). They fertilize said experiments with 3 genetically altered, basically fake (almost robotic) "babies". turns out, the last 2 experiments, Epsi and Delta, were both successful. The problem was that they made a mistake in the genetic makeup of the test-babies. XD Some of that could prove awkward to write, for several reasons (one of which being I'm not exactly a bio-scientist... :tongue

). But it'll be fun. techno babble anyone?

I think sex scenes would be awkward for me. But i don't know.

Other than that basic thing, I have no problem with gore or anything (so far...), and I can't think of anything else.

Now I want to try to find something weird to write, just for kicks. :ROFL:

|xX

OverTheHills&FarAway · Aug 20, 2007

What makes me uncomfortable to write?

Anything having to do with imprisonment. Both the literal and figurative kind. Mental, emotional, and physical. I hate the idea of being trapped by something, and powerless to get away from/overpower/take control of your own life. So, yeah, anything to do with prison and the like terrifies me.

Also mesmerizes me. Why is it that things we fear hold so much sway over us?
One of my WIPs concerns a man on death row. It's scary. I get nervous just thinking about being in his position. Unable to really have a life. Without freedom, without dignity. But the strong emotions I feel help me, I think, understand what it must be like to be in that position, and to portray it accurately.

At least I hope so. Or else it's just gonna sound really stupid.

JimmyB27 · Aug 20, 2007

I'm uncomfortable whatever I write, but I think that's just this chair.

In all seriousness, though, I don't think there's necessarily anything I'd feel particularly uncomfortable writing, because, y'know, it's not real. So long as it fits the story I'm writing, I'll write it.

KTC · Aug 20, 2007

I don't feel uncomfortable writing about anything.

seun · Aug 20, 2007

I wouldn't write anything unpleasant just for the sake of it. Shocking people or at least making them uncomfortable just because you can is boring. If there's a reason for it that's part of a character or plot, then anything goes.

mum23 · Aug 20, 2007

I am writing about personal experiences in step families. To bring in some background I wrote about the abuse I got from my ex. Got very depressed for a few days having to "relive" it. In fact I get very depressed re living the whole step family situation but ther ya go.

Devil Ledbetter · Aug 20, 2007

Comfortable = Boring.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 20, 2007

I like comfortable. There is a whole slew of novels out there that are best-sellers and comfortable. Personally, I don't feel any need to "push the envelope" or "cross the line" of what is socially acceptable.

I'll leave that for others who seem to have that sort of need.

Me, I write simply to entertain. I make no pretenses to anything else.

jodiodi · Aug 20, 2007

Barbarique said:
It would be singularly wrenching for me to write about an animal suffering. It's bad enough describing the awful things humans do to one another, but a helpless creature? <shudder>

I'm with you on this one. I will pretty much write anything, but this is the only topic that I try to avoid at all costs. There are topics that I may get emotional about while writing, but that's usually because I feel what my characters feel as I write.

Sex, violence, politics, religion--I'll write about all of them. Of course, I write fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal romances so I can pretty much make up my own rules for most of what I write.

Esopha · Aug 20, 2007

I don't think I intentionally look at my writing as 'comfortable' or 'uncomfortable,' nor do I try to push social limits.

But...I don't think there's much that can get me squicky. I read and wrote erotica when I was 12 (it was pretty bad, though) so sex is okay for me. Violence is fine. Sexual fetishes are kind of 'eh.' They're not that interesting for me. Religion and mythology have always been passions of mine, so writing about religion doesn't bother me.

What is squicky to me? Child sex. Gratuitous rape for no apparent reason. Sex, violence, religion-bashing, and fetishes that have no place in the novel, but are stuck there so the author can claim to be pushing the envelope.

Oh, and mind control. To an extent. I dislike the idea of anybody getting into my head and poking my cerebral cortex, I guess.

Uncomfortable

aka cupcake

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