[stylist] writing about blindness

Tue Nov 11 20:14:05 UTC 2008

Aziza,
that's one problem we're up against as blind people in this society: 
very very few examples or role models in the media, the books, etc.
whether to write a character as blind or not is honestly not the 
first thing on my mind because I'm more interested when I have an 
idea, I want to write a story about some particular struggle, some 
puzzle to be unravveled.
it is also important to remember that sometimes having a major 
character who is blind makes your story harder for some readers to 
get into, have the verisimilitude, because they don't experience 
blindness and don't know a blind person.
so there is also a catch-22 about it.

***
personal update:
by the way I seem to be getting sicker with more of the flu-like 
symptoms getting very bad: headache; other aches; stiffness; 
etc.  apparently I will get worse before I get better.  last thursday 
I started the once-a-week shot to treat my autoimmune 
disorder.  thank you for praying if you do.
jim

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 01:14 PM 11/11/2008, you wrote:
>I suppose I could write about blind people better, but I read a lot 
>of fiction books, and most of them have sighted characters. I draw 
>from those descriptions, also in class, you don't see the teacher 
>teaching many texts with blind people in them. I think I can write 
>about fiction sighted characters as well as I can blind fiction 
>characters. I may of course be wrong.
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
>To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 12:07 PM
>Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>
>
>>I guess it depends on your frame of mind at the time of writing. While blind
>>fiction writers can depict blind characters obviously far more accurately
>>than sighted fiction writers, we limit ourselves if we stick exclusively to
>>blind characters or blindness issues.
>>As for articles, I've been writing about a lot of blindness related stuff
>>lately. Its funny, I went into my historical research and writing class
>>vowing I was going to write about anything but a blindness issue, and ended
>>up writing about the way the ADA effects blind people. Go figure.
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Aziza
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:00 AM
>>To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>
>>I don't write about being blind either. I mean unless it's my articles. But
>>when I write storries, all my characters can see, and have other problems
>>they must overcome in their lives.
>>I don't think it's denial at all.
>>Aziza
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
>>To: "Stylist" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:51 AM
>>Subject: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>
>>
>>>I'm not in denial nor do I ignore the fact that I do have a handicap
>>>that I have to overcome on a daily basis.  However, when I am writing
>>>I seem to go into a different world.  I write about people who are
>>>ill, some of my characters die and others fall into the clutches of
>>>bad people.  If I say that blindness bores me, you might come out with
>>>an arms length of causes for my symptoms.  However, a person does not
>>>necessarily want to write about those things they live with and rise
>>>above on a daily basis.  I am fat.  Writing about being fat falls under
>>the same category as blind.
>>>Live with it.  Fight against it as much as possible, but it shouldn't
>>>dominate every facet of your life.  Again, you may think I'm in some
>>>kind of denial, but I'm not.  I won't drive a car into a crowd, try
>>>sewing a garment while it is on the back of my would be victim and I
>>>won't pretend to read the paper when I can't even make out one picture
>>>in the blasted thing.  Judith
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>>
>>
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