[stylist] writing about blindness

Judith Bron jbron at optonline.net
Thu Nov 13 20:14:14 UTC 2008 

Yes, I've looked up myself.  It was quite impressive!  I wish I knew that 
person!  Hahaha  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness


> On that point I must agree.  Google is one of my best friends.  Have you 
> ever looked up yourself or those you love?
> Barbara
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:58 AM
> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>
>> 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
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>>>>>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwat
>>>>>>>>>>>>> erreader
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 09%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> m
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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