[stylist] writing about blindness

Donna Hill penatwork at epix.net
Thu Nov 13 15:58:09 UTC 2008 

Barbara,
I remember hating it in college, when people still thought I should be 
able to use the card catalog at the library.  Now, with Google and all, 
it's not nearly as bad.
Donna

-- 
For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill

Apple I-Tunes

phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374

Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
www.padnfb.org





Barbara Hammel wrote:
> I don't know, but I've heard that people do it quite frequently.
> Ah!  Come to think of it, I think I've done a bit when I wanted to 
> write an alphabet poem of world cities.  Guess I know what it is after 
> all.  I hate it!
> Barbara
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:41 PM
> To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>
>> Research? What's that? (smile)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Donna Hill
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:32 AM
>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>
>> Makes sense to me.  After all, there's a little thing called research 
>> which
>> is a valuable tool when writing about anything.
>> Donna
>>
>> -- 
>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>
>> Apple I-Tunes
>>
>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374 
>>
>>
>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>> www.padnfb.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Aziza wrote:
>>> It is also up to the author's level of education and understanding
>>> about the disability he or she is choosing to write about. I do not
>>> hold a lack of knowledge against an author, I hold the fact that they
>>> chose to write about something they knew little about in a way that
>>> suggests they know more then they do against them.
>>> If someone does not know about blindness it is not necessarily their
>>> fault, but when they choose to write and make up facts in there mind
>>> and try to persuade people that their "facts" are true, then it is
>>> their fault.
>>> I'm not sure if that made any sense, it did to me. Lol. (That doesn't
>>> always mean much.)
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
>>> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:03 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>
>>>
>>>> It is up to the author to paint their character as normal.  There are
>>>> many books that focus on issues surrounding the mentally handicapped.
>>>> Is that because mental illness is more obvious, that some mentally
>>>> ill people are more violent or because society has reached a level of
>>>> acceptance of the mentally ill?  I think it is up to the author to
>>>> create his characters in such a way that society sees them as equals
>>>> rather than different.
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "helene ryles"
>>>> <dreamavdb at googlemail.com>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 6:11 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> My book has blind characters in it. I think that there are so many
>>>>> negative examples of blind and disabled characters in fiction that
>>>>> it would be a good thing if blind authors with possitive views on
>>>>> their blindness would educate people by including a character or two
>>>>> in their novels.
>>>>> As for me. I write to make sense of my world. If I was told the
>>>>> publishers wouldn't accept disabled characters I would still include
>>>>> them and hope that one day that would change. After all Van Goth
>>>>> didn't have any of his paintings sold in his life time. But they are
>>>>> famous now. Maybe people will be more open minded about the disabled
>>>>> in the future?
>>>>>
>>>>> Helene.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11/11/2008, Angela fowler <fowlers at syix.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I wonder if writing about blind characters who are just ordinary
>>>>>> people, maybe even having a minor role in the story and publishing
>>>>>> it mainstream would help to transcend that divide?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith Bron
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 2:37 PM
>>>>>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you are going to write about a minority, be that racial, ethnic
>>>>>> or handicapped, you  might want to try publishers or periodicals
>>>>>> that are dedicated to that particular genre.  Yes, there are times
>>>>>> that you can transcend the divide, but you have to write with the
>>>>>> audience you are writing for.
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
>>>>>> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:34 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jim,
>>>>>>> You make a couple of good points here.  I am very conscious that,
>>>>>>> if I intend to market a short story, having it be about blindness
>>>>>>> may turn off a publication.  I do have several ideas that I've
>>>>>>> been sitting on which are about the ironies of how blind people
>>>>>>> are viewed and treated, but, as I say, I'm sitting on them.
>>>>>>> Donna
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>>>>>>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Apple I-Tunes
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25
>>>>>>> 9244
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 374
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>>>>> www.padnfb.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> James Canaday M.A. N6YR wrote:
>>>>>>>> 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 _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwat
>>>>>>>>>>> erreader
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> 09%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40
>>>>>> syix.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwaterrea
>>>>>> der09%40g
>>>>>>
>>>>>> mail.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/n6yr%40sun
>>>>>> flower.co
>>>>>>
>>>>>> m
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%
>>>>>> 40epix.ne
>>>>>>
>>>>>> t
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database
>>>>>>>> version: 5.11100
>>>>>>>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database
>>>>>>> version: 5.11100
>>>>>>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40op
>>>>>> tonline.n
>>>>>>
>>>>>> et
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40
>>>>>> syix.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/dreamavdb%
>>>>>> 40googlemail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for stylist:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40opt
>>>>> online.net
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> stylist:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwaterreade
>>>> r09%40gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> stylist mailing list
>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> stylist:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40e
>>> pix.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version:
>>> 5.11100 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
>> Database version: 5.11110
>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.com 
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> stylist:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/poetlori8%40msn.com 
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epix.net 
>
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
> Database version: 5.11121
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>




E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
Database version: 5.11121
http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/

More information about the Stylist mailing list