Sunday, August 13, 2017

Wondering if my book is too politically polarizing. Damn.

"Takeover" will be my best book, without a doubt. The "good" book I've been striving for. As I say, this is my own estimation and may not be matched by others opinions, but it doesn't matter.

I think it's good.

However, I think it's probably a problem book not because of the quality of its story or writing, but because of the content.

There is no way to write about what I'm writing about without polarizing one political side or the other. In fact, I sort of have the dreaded feeling that I'll probably polarize both sides!

But I knew that going in. It was what attracted me to the story in the first place. There is some meat on those bones, some real world meaning. So I went ahead and expended my best efforts on something that may in the end be unpublishable.

As I say, it doesn't matter. I've succeeded in doing what I set out to do.

2 comments:

Dave Cline said...

Speaking for myself, I find I have no choice but to write to a worldview of some sort. A "I'm going to change the world -- or at least a mind or two," kind of stance. I'm already so politically charged, I'd wager I have a tough time NOT writing with a bent toward some social, ecological or political agenda.

You want some research material regarding this topic of yours, I (don't ask me why) get Range Magazine. Phew! What a stinking pile of, I mean, what a rightwing / libertarian offering of views. "Climate Change? Hogwash! EPA? Damn the EPA! In fact, damn the whole federal guv'ment! This is my family's land going back five generations! " (But, ahem, ignore who 'owned' it before them.)

If you're convinced this is one of your masterpieces... maybe writing to a certain social persuasion is what you've secretly been chomping for.

Duncan McGeary said...

I don't know about "masterpiece" but it just feels right. Like I haven't gone off course this time. Hard to create an entire story like that.

It doesn't hurt to have meaty subjects, something I can go as deep into as I'm capable.

I've mentioned before, the Donner Party story was a good solid story without any fictional elements. When I wrote "The Dead Spend No Gold," I looked for something with meaning and thought of the gold rush, the Indian genocide and environmental degradation.

I realize I tend to love my stuff while I'm writing it, by the way.