This is just one of those questions that pops in your head and you just want to know what others think and feel. So here we go. Is there any subject matter that you as a writer feel is Taboo or should not really be tackled.
This is just one of those questions that pops in your head and you just want to know what others think and feel. So here we go. Is there any subject matter that you as a writer feel is Taboo or should not really be tackled.
Its a matter of perspective isn't it-One man's meat is the other's poison. There are things people can't bear to read about like animal torture or cruelty to children. I can't read 'Lovely bones' and barely could read 'I chose to live' by Sabine Dardenne as I have a very low threshold for particular kind of crimes.
There are many topics in David's post that covers taboo subjects-mostly to do with violence, hatred and cruelty. I certainly wouldn't read them if it was fiction-only if it was based on reality. Which brings us to another topic-what makes people read fiction or non-fiction?
I suppose that it depends on who is mentioning the taboo subject. To use Jonathan's example, if I were to write an historical story in which a black character featured, it would be historically accurate (unfortunately) to make another character address him as 'nigger', but if I continued to reference him as such throughout the novel, in a way that could be construed as my opinion and not the characters, then I'd imagine that people would rightfully find that offensive.
Just thought I'd mention the subject of racism in historical fiction, since I have a 'secondary-main' black character in my latest story which is set in 1808-09.
I found the publisher was quite happy (ish) for any of my characters to use the words 'negro' or 'nigger' in conversation or thought, because those terms were considered usual at the time.It was, however, unacceptable to use these words in narrative, for obvious reasons.
Might be something worth bearing in mind.