[Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

Thu Sep 20 14:05:47 UTC 2018

David,

Any fiction by any author has to have a main character. I guess I'm not
quite understanding you. You literally can't have a story without a main
character. It's one of the tenants of creative writing. Frankly, even in
nonfiction, you have a main character, it's just obviously all real. Grisham
is not unusual in having a main character as you can't really have a story
without a main character or main characters. Even in plot-driven stories,
there is a main character/characters. In writing 101, you shouldn't begin a
story with a plot but, rather, a strong set of characters.

My comment was about Chris's comments about his novel with a blind character
where an editor commented that they needed to be more "vulnerable," implying
the character didn't meet a stereotypical definition of blindness. I've
heard other blind writers make similar comments that editors and publishers
have told them they can't sell a blind character as the protagonist,
especially if they don't meet stereotypical ideals about blind people. I
also know Chris on a personal level, and we've discussed this subject
before. My comments were not necessarily directly about the oped you shared,
but, rather, on Chris's comments about experience in attempting to publish.

In contrast, as a creative nonfiction writer (which is memoir/personal
essay/literarly journalism, etc.) I'm frequently asked to write about
blindness and my experience as a blind person. Only until recently did I
start focusing on this more in my writing, but, I don't like being put in a
box and told what I should and should not write, as if blindness is the only
interesting thing in my life. But, editors and publishers seem to have
different opinions about blindness as a main focus when nonfiction, eager to
read pieces about it.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Russell via
Stylist
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2018 7:28 AM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: David Russell <david.sonofhashem at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

Bridgit,
No, Grisham seems to write about a lawyer who is defending someone against a
glut if you will be it a entity like a corporation, business venture or
something else. The defense attorney also is involved in backstory of
exposing a law firm for questionable or corrupt practices. John Grisham may
have a main character in mind, but on further thought, main characters seem
to make up his novels. Same for another writer, Jeffry Archer, example,
"Kane and Abel". Grinning back.

I didn't quite box Chris's comment or Laurie Alice's piece into solely
writing about blind characters, but took each to be representing themselves
as blind authors and speaking to that experience. I may have misinterpreted
either.

Some time ago, I read "If You Could See What I Hear", autobio by Tom
Sullivan, not the talk show host of radio today. Now, he was the main
character and also blind. I think marketing in the '70s helped make him
known nationally at that time as a sort of 'super guy'. As I wind up editing
my autobio, I will try and focus on making sure other characters get fair
time as people tire of hearing one horn beep for any length of time; thanks
for the kind exhort!

David
On 9/19/18, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> David,
>
> Does Grisham write blind characters? I'm talking specifically about 
> blind characters. Obviously, fiction has to have a main character. I 
> just mean that if your main character is blind, editors and publishers 
> aren't as interested. But, you can't have a story without a 
> character/characters, grin.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Russell 
> via Stylist
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2018 5:32 PM
> To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: David Russell <david.sonofhashem at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind 
> Author
>
> Hi Bridgit and Chris and others,
>
> Interesting contrast between fiction and nonfiction world.  Bridgit, 
> are you saying that with fiction publishers are less interested in 
> having works that evolve around a main character?
> If so, how would one explain the success of a writer like John 
> Grisham? I suppose you could argue he has supportive characters who 
> have equal roles to the main character.
>
> David
>
> On 9/19/18, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist 
> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>> Chris and David,
>>
>> It's funny because I hear a lot that when writing fiction, editors 
>> and publisher's don't want to see a blind character, or at least a 
>> main character. However, as a creative nonfiction writer, I always 
>> hear that people want me to write more about blindness, as if that's 
>> the only thing I do and want to focus on in my life. When I blogged 
>> for the Omaha World Herald, an editor solicited me about writing a 
>> book, but, he wanted an entire book about my life as a blind person, 
>> and at the time, I didn't want to do that. Interesting the difference 
>> in attitudes between fiction and nonfiction when it comes to the 
>> subject of
> blindness.
>>
>> Bridgit
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Chris Kuell 
>> via Stylist
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2018 3:30 PM
>> To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Chris Kuell <ckuell at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind 
>> Author
>>
>> David,
>>
>> Thanks for sharing this op-ed piece. I believe the author hit the 
>> nail right on the head, despite her blindness!
>>
>> I've written two novels and have failed to get an agent. With my 
>> first, I got 8 requests for more, but nobody took it. A former 
>> Redbook editor asked if I mentioned I was blind in my cover letter, I 
>> said no, and she implored me to do so. I did, sent out more queries, 
>> and got no
> responses.
>>
>> Meanwhile, I wrote another novel, this one in the first person from a 
>> blind character's perspective. I ran it by my critique group, paid a 
>> professional editor to help me tighten it up, had several writer 
>> friends read and comment on it and when it was good to go, I sent it 
>> out. I got two nibbles, both asking to see more. After sending in the 
>> first 50 pages, one agent simply rejected it and the other said she 
>> was going to pass and suggested I make my character 'more vulnerable'.
>> Stupid me, I wrote about a blind guy who lived by himself and had a 
>> job and had fun with his friends, got mad when he accidentally 
>> knocked things off the counter, and basically lived his life like any 
>> other person.
>>
>> Still hoping to get published, my latest novel has a blind minor 
>> character, and I won't mention my blindness in my cover letters.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
> David Russell
> david.sonofhashem at gmail.com
> "chilah phanim" Make G-d smile!
>
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--
David Russell
david.sonofhashem at gmail.com
"chilah phanim" Make G-d smile!

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