If I'm writing a memoir, and talking about myself in a story, does mentioning myself smoking make me less attractive to the reader in general? Should I intentionally leave smoking out? I'm leaning towards "no," because I want to stay honest.
Ok, well here's the deal. I am writing a memoir about being the only white relative in a family of Hispanic in-laws. When I see them, it is an unwritten rule that I spend 50% of my time with my mother-in-law and 50% of my time with my father-in-law. With my mother-in-law, I spend my time sitting at the kitchen table watching her cook, she likes it when I chit-chat with her. With my father-in-law, I smoke. That's the activity he likes me to do with him. The chapter in question involves me taking a break from my mother-in-law to go outside with him and smoke, then all sorts of hijinks ensue that don't involve smoking. Should I change the smoking to, say, dominoes?
This question was posed in my critique group, and I wanted to see what you guys thought. The critique group believes that my readers won't like me as an author because of the smoking.
The critique group believes that my readers won't like me as an author because of the smoking.
This question was posed in my critique group, and I wanted to see what you guys thought. The critique group believes that my readers won't like me as an author because of the smoking.
Do readers have to smell your smoke to read youir book? I'm an ex-smoker (and probably much worse than a never-smoked non-smoker) and I wouldn't have a problem reading about your smoking. Clearly in this case smoking is part of the socializing (or even the whole excuse to go outside and socialize) with your father-in-law. IMHO, you should tell the story as it was. And another thing, I know very little about Mexican culture, but where I've lived people don't usually go outside to play dominoes.Ok, well here's the deal. I am writing a memoir about being the only white relative in a family of Hispanic in-laws. When I see them, it is an unwritten rule that I spend 50% of my time with my mother-in-law and 50% of my time with my father-in-law. With my mother-in-law, I spend my time sitting at the kitchen table watching her cook, she likes it when I chit-chat with her. With my father-in-law, I smoke. That's the activity he likes me to do with him. The chapter in question involves me taking a break from my mother-in-law to go outside with him and smoke, then all sorts of hijinks ensue that don't involve smoking. Should I change the smoking to, say, dominoes?
This question was posed in my critique group, and I wanted to see what you guys thought. The critique group believes that my readers won't like me as an author because of the smoking.
Thanks for all the comments above!
Do readers have to smell your smoke to read youir book?
With my mother-in-law, I spend my time sitting at the kitchen table watching her cook, she likes it when I chit-chat with her. With my father-in-law, I smoke. That's the activity he likes me to do with him.
I agree with Ritergal.The whole idea of ritual smoking with your f-i-l sounds intriguing. Even as a non-smoker, I fully understand that there are rituals involved with this activity, and at times, even though the idea of smoking is repugnant, I feel a little envious of those rituals. I absolutely vote for remaining authentic and true.
That's like saying "She bites her nails? Ew gross. I won't be your friend." Definately don't leave it out.Oh horse hockey! How stupid. What reader, unless they are vehemently anti-smoker, is going to dislike you for simply smoking?
Readers like writers for their WRITING, not for their personal habits. Sheesh.