Lol, stuff that happens on Amazon right? - reminds me of that whole Anne Rice thing. This is the main reason I get so nervous meeting famous people- they might write or act well but then turn out to be a complete a-hole.
Also another reason you need to be careful about writing things you don't know- partly why I prefer fantasy worlds. The least he could have done was say sorry to that woman- or even nothing might have been better. (the new verb 'westplain' is brilliant as well. I know more than a few people who do this). Better still he could have asked an actual Turkish person- he might be surprised how un-offended people can be when you don't know crap about their culture but admit it and are willing to learn.
And wait, Istanbul's not the capital of Turkey? Oops. I feel bad. (on an almost completely unrelated and random note: the picture on the wiki of the real capital made me grin. Second one on the left (seriously, what does it say that was the first thing I saw...) :P)
Also another reason you need to be careful about writing things you don't know- partly why I prefer fantasy worlds.
Or if writing in a realm not your own be sure to do your GOD***m HOMEWORK!!! This is why I tend to be so harsh on historical novels if I recognize something totally out of right field (and I'm VERY forgiving) without it being the historical equivalent of an Elseworld (ex. "What if the South won the US Civil War?"). This is also why if I was ever to write a fic that takes place in modern(or even historic) India (for example) I would see if I could talk to someone from there and eventually ask them to see if it makes ANY sense. And rizny, this is why I bugged you months back asking if you'd help. (Don't worry, I'm feeling a bit more confident in my writing in this established uni these days and don't feel the need to beg for assistance when it comes to it even with a beta).
I think my biggest fear is getting something intellectually and logically wrong that totally ruins a readers experience with it's inaccuracy.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-09-28 08:30 pm (UTC)Also another reason you need to be careful about writing things you don't know- partly why I prefer fantasy worlds. The least he could have done was say sorry to that woman- or even nothing might have been better. (the new verb 'westplain' is brilliant as well. I know more than a few people who do this). Better still he could have asked an actual Turkish person- he might be surprised how un-offended people can be when you don't know crap about their culture but admit it and are willing to learn.
And wait, Istanbul's not the capital of Turkey? Oops. I feel bad. (on an almost completely unrelated and random note: the picture on the wiki of the real capital made me grin. Second one on the left (seriously, what does it say that was the first thing I saw...) :P)
no subject
Date: 2010-09-29 02:34 am (UTC)Or if writing in a realm not your own be sure to do your GOD***m HOMEWORK!!! This is why I tend to be so harsh on historical novels if I recognize something totally out of right field (and I'm VERY forgiving) without it being the historical equivalent of an Elseworld (ex. "What if the South won the US Civil War?"). This is also why if I was ever to write a fic that takes place in modern(or even historic) India (for example) I would see if I could talk to someone from there and eventually ask them to see if it makes ANY sense. And
I think my biggest fear is getting something intellectually and logically wrong that totally ruins a readers experience with it's inaccuracy.