[ SECRET POST #5008 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5008 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.



__________________________________________________



02.


__________________________________________________


03.


__________________________________________________



04.


__________________________________________________



05.


__________________________________________________



06.


__________________________________________________



07.


__________________________________________________



08.


__________________________________________________



09.


__________________________________________________



10.
















Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 41 secrets from Secret Submission Post #717.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

01. https://i.imgur.com/X6Fn6m8.png

[(Anonymous)]

Write it anyway.

The most important thing in ANY book is that it's a GOOD book. Well written, interesting and complex characters, and a compelling plot. The rest is nice to have.

[(Anonymous)]

I think if I were in this situation, my worry would be that I'd end up writing something that looked like... well, what the new live action Mulan sounds like. Nobody meant for that to be a trainwreck, but... yep.

[dantesspirit]

The script aside, that had more behind the scenes issues going for it that makes it a bigger trainwreck than it might otherwise have become.

[(Anonymous)]

Go ahead. Write it. Use her book as a comp book when you query. (if you can query in the next 2 years.) If she has good sales, you might get picked up. Just. um. don't query her agent. They do this "i already have one of that" thing that's annoying.

traditional publishing is about what sells. If her book is selling and you think you can do it better, go ahead, write it, query, see if any agents bite. ownvoices is big right now and there is a lot going on about comp books and author advances and how bad the industry is about them. You have a slighter chance than normal.

[(Anonymous)]

I think you should still write it, OP. When I was a kid, it felt like there was only one book with characters and elements from my cultural background. Now there are way more and that's super cool because all those books show the different ways one can be a person from my culture.

[(Anonymous)]

I seriously hate it when authors throw in a different language and give to context or translation for it. I don't even care if it's something simple or not, add a translation anyways, put it at the bottom of the page! I hate the narrative disconnect I feel when I have to guess at what a character's saying, especially since English is such a stupid language which doesn't translate nicely.

[(Anonymous)]

If it's done well, I can usually guess what the native language is supposed to mean in the context of the narrative and it adds to the story, but if it's not done well or if it's inconsistent, it really bugs me.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't like it, either. I feel like this is something a good editor would point out for revision, otherwise you end up with something like:

Agatha gazed up at the three blood-moons that hung low over the horizon. "Horace," she said, "Pass me the bleargarbla. I need to wuffwuff the bazungahdoo tonight before it rains."

[(Anonymous)]

Write it anyway, OP.
Please don’t gatekeep yourself out of your own culture or out of your goals/dreams.

[(Anonymous)]

+1000

[epicurean]

OP, don't let something like that deter you from sharing your background and culture. Everyone's experiences are different and wont invalidate one another. Also there shouldn't be a thing of token writer or whatever. So write your own experience, OP. Write your story.

[(Anonymous)]

I think you should write it! Her stories can't represent every experience, and certainly some other readers must relate to being unsatisfied with her writing and will resonate more with yours. Besides, if your work is published, it won't unpublish hers— there will just be more published books representing your cultural background.

[tabaqui]

You are as 'authentic' as this person is - I don't see any reason for you *not* to write your own stories. I mean - research, watch some movies or videos (if possible), maybe find some people from (country) to talk to, if you really feel unsure, but - your voice counts, too.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm going second all the comments that state
1. Just write it
2. Your experience is valid because it is your own.

I definitely relate to the feeling and question of am I [culturally, ethnically, racially, etc.] Enough to tell this story? Should there be someone else telling this story? And the entire litany of questions that arise (and can be useful when trying to be conscientious and critical of your work) when you begin to look at your own experience. But that culture is as much yours as it is hers, even if your experiences differ. You have your own and different story to tell. It's no use at all to paralyze yourself because this one person is currently doing this. I'm sure you're not the only person from that country who grew up away from there and has similar influences as you, and that is a story YOU can tell. And maybe her if she's a good writer, does her research and consults. The same way you can.

Fear cannot restrain us, we mustn't let it.

[(Anonymous)]

Always remember: two cakes.

Also, I'd imagine that once your work is published, there will be a secret here, saying, "I'll take [OP] over [other author] any day. Just because [other author] is closer to the culture doesn't mean their books are better. [OP]'s take on the culture is just as good, and they can actually write." And it will get a lot of comments agreeing.

[(Anonymous)]

If you grew up somewhere else then you're not really the product of that country are you? Anymore than Americans with Irish ancestory are actually Irish. Genes are only part of the story.

[(Anonymous)]

diaspora

[(Anonymous)]

There's a difference between "My great-great grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from County Cork and we've been here ever since" and "I was born in Vietnam but my family moved to the U.S. when I was a baby", though.

OP

[(Anonymous)]

I was born there, and lived there as a small child. I've gone back for long visits and still have family there. I may not be quite as of that country as the author is, but you do not surrender all of your traditions and culture when you become a U.S. citizen.

[(Anonymous)]

Full respect to your concerns, but you're thinking about this too hard. Your voice is valued.

Keep in mind: Your experiences are as unique as hers are. She couldn't accurately write from your experience, either. And you don't HAVE to write only exactly what you know. Otherwise fiction as a whole would be bereft.

Write your stories, get your voice out there.

[(Anonymous)]

If you think you're such a good writer, get down to it and write your story.

[(Anonymous)]

Write for your fellow western diaspora peeps? They’ll have the same thinking patterns as you. Everyone has a potential audience, it just mightn’t be the one you view as authentic/worthy.

[dantesspirit]

Write anyway.

Just because there are those who have similar backgrounds, doing what you perceive as similar things out there, should never stop someone from following their own path and doing their own thing.

OP here...

[(Anonymous)]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their supportive comments and insight. I think I'll give writing this a try. Thanks again, everyone!