That implies that the characters are somehow identified as white, rather than being racially/ethnically indeterminate (which characters in fictional stories can be, when race/ethnicity is not significant for the purpose of telling the story). Is that the case, and (if so) is such racial/ethnic identification significant for the purpose of telling the story?
RE #14, in a creative writing class, it is not unusual to be asked to write in a different voice or to write in a different genre or to write dialog. There are often parameters, designed to help a writer develop his or her craft.
This is not a hill to die on. In other words, don’t submit a complaint to the school about this professor.
A very legitimate question to ask your professor would be something like this:
“Hi Professor So-and-So. I’ve been thinking some more about the suggestion you made the other day about how I should include some non-white characters in my stories. Do you have any recommendations on how I might go about doing that, even though I’m not a non-white person? I don’t want to disrespect people of other races/cultures by just assuming that I know what they’re thinking and I don’t want to culturally appropriate anything.”
It really is a legitimate and honest question.
I also agree that this professor has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about this stuff. She also probably has good intentions with all of this, hence her suggestion that you take one of her classes on feminist or postcolonial black literature. If you were, let’s say, a history major with an interest in the postcolonial era, perhaps taking that literature class from her would be a good idea to broaden your horizons a bit.
But Classics and feminist literature…and Classics and postcolonial black literature are very different from each other. If Classics is what you really love, of course you’d want to use elective credits on Classics-related classes.
Just chock this class up to experience and don’t take another class taught by this particular professor again.
Take it as a compliment that she’d like to see you in another one of her classes!
I meant to also add this extra food for thought…
In the professional world out in the work place, you will encounter a lot of people over the course of your career who will give you feedback that you don’t like. It might be from your boss, from a coworker, etc. Sometimes you will be able to steer clear of the person and other times you will still be forced to have to work with that person who you might not like very much…the person who made huge wide-sweeping assumptions about you…the person who perhaps you’d like to tell, “Hey, go take a long walk off a short pier.”
One option is to go with the “smile and nod” method. You might have already had experience with “smile and nod” when you were a high school senior and random people would ask you where you’re going to college, then they’d put their feet in their mouths and say something dumb, followed you smiling and nodding.
Another option is to say something back to the person which:
a. acknowledges that you heard him/her
b. responds in a non-offensive very middle of the road way. Here’s a couple of examples…
- "That's a really interesting suggestion!
- "I hadn't thought of it like that. Thank you!"
- "Hm...interesting! I'll have to think about that!"
Also, unfortunately, some professors will only give students good grades if those students spout back to them (the professors) in papers & written assignments viewpoints which the professor agrees with. The flip side of this is that sometimes a student will turn in a written assignment and the student will make a case or argument for something in that paper which the professor vehemently disagrees with…and sometimes that passionate professor will give you a bad grade for that.
It’s not supposed to happen like that, but it does.
I could totally see a situation like this evolving into one in which you follow the professor’s suggestion and you DO include a non-white named character in your next story/stories, but then you are criticized and/or marked down for cultural appropriating…because, after all, since you are NOT non-white yourself, how dare you even ASSUME that you have ANY clue of what sort of challenges non-white individuals go through on a daily basis.
I don’t know anything about the publishing world. But I do buy fiction books. I know what sort of books I like to read so I tend to read books in those genres. I personally don’t care what the race or ethnic origin is of the characters in the books I read. If the character’s race is pertinent to the story, the author weaves it into the story when he/she describes the character. Sometimes, the character’s race doesn’t matter at all, though.
By the way, I think the way you’ve been writing serial stories in this class is pretty cool. It’s similar to that movie, “Wonder,” which is out in theaters now. Apparently it’s based on a book (which I’ve never read). But it’s a really neat and unique way of story-telling.
I agree that “whilst” is a bit much. And your fiancée is protective of you, not defensive of you.
OK, don’t get defensive: the reason I point those out (as did the other poster) is that you are a student, and are in school to learn. If you spoke to your professor with the tone that comes across here, I think you owe her an apology. As others have said, you should try to look at your work objectively, take constructive criticism, be more open-minded and think outside the box. You don’t need to justify what you do and why you do it. But if you insist on writing only as you see fit without suggestions/guidance from others more experienced than you, you run the risk of being very one dimensional in your work. And if you are fortunate enough to eventually be a published writer, you will have to work with editors who may want to make changes you don’t like. Best to get comfortable with that now. Oh, and its a bad idea to tell your professor you aren’t interested in her classes. That could come back to bite you.
Time to be more humble and open-minded. You need to think of yourself not so much as a “writer” but as a “student” who is there to learn. Take the opportunity to learn. You don’t know it all.
I have been an English professor for 30 years. Consequently I have taught writing, including creative writing, for more than 30 years, starting as a graduate student. It is not rare to have students who have problems with their writings and refuse to follow simple advice.
Here’s the pattern. I usually start off with a simple suggestion that would help significantly: quit the 5 paragraph themes, drop the first person for this assignment, or no sentences over 30 words for the rest of the semester. The student decides that what he are doing is great art and I am a fool for not recognizing his unique voice, powerful world view, or innovative style. The student digs in and learns nothing. I am always sad when a student refuses to try something new. To be so young and yet so unable to think in new ways . . . well, after all this years, I do not waste time with such students. I have learned that they are stuck and will never be truly creative, innovative, or even interesting.
Take a class in feminist literature or postcolonial black literature class. It will likely make you a more-rounded, more aware thinker (maybe writer, too) – and it will be a nice contrast to your Classics courses. You may never have such an opportunity again, and it would be a shame to miss out. (Isn’t this what college is all about? Pushing yourself intellectually?)
I can see why you might interpret her feedback as an aspersion on your character.
I can also see how that’s not your professor’s intention at all, that she likes your work and thinks you’re talented enough to gain a great deal from a broader exposure to literature and literary theory.
Yea, it sucks to be judged subjectively. Which of course is something every creative writer faces.
This whole thing is farging stupid. It’s a free country, write what you want. Trying to force races/sexes into a story is fake. Everything doesn’t have to be about everything. Sounds like money well spent.
So add a “nutty professor” into your story. Or write about vegetables.
Better yet, change your major to business. Good luck.
Cuz you won’t have to work with and get to know diverse people in business these days… Maybe you should take this further. If your life experience has been all with white males, expand your experiencea so there is more you “know” and thus more can draw on as a writer.
" as a writer, I write who and what I know and what I want to write about, that I create worlds and characters that I want to create, and that I’ve a right and am obligation to remain authentic to myself."
And then what? Does that make you a great writer or someone with a keyboard or pencil and paper? This is an age old argument among artists: for me or for the audience? I happen to be in the school that it’s the latter; the rest is just hobby.
And as a writer, too, this drives me nuts. I suspect your teacher, as some others said, wanted to ask for some stretch, some exercise of your writing task to include more than just what occurs to you and pleases you. This is the same as kids in art school being asked to explore other mediums. Not just “because,” but as an expansion of your skills and for what can be learned in the process.
Be open minded. Writing sholuldn’t just be indulgence, it’s a craft to be honed.
At this point, you’re a novice. Spread your wings.
“Also, unfortunately, some professors will only give students good grades if those students spout back to them (the professors) in papers & written assignments viewpoints which the professor agrees with. The flip side of this is that sometimes a student will turn in a written assignment and the student will make a case or argument for something in that paper which the professor vehemently disagrees with…and sometimes that passionate professor will give you a bad grade for that.”
Yes! This does happen. One of the capstone classes in my degree was International Business. The teacher who taught this class was the only professor who taught this class and you had to pass in order to get any business degree. One of my fellow students was on his 3rd try to pass the class. Yet he still argued with her and refused to put the answers she wanted down on the test. I think she passed him the third time just to get rid of him arguing with her.
I thought this student was a Brit. Using whilst is not at all unusual. If you aren’t British, then it’s an affectation.
Write about whatever you want to write about and just chalk this up to one of many occasions in life when you will have a disagreement with someone. Do not report the prof, she believes she is giving constructive criticism, which is her job after all. She is human and has opinions, and obviosuly thinks you are a very good writer. Take it as a very backhanded compliment.
“It’s a free country…” Yup which is why the professor is free to run the course more or less as she pleases.
This isn’t a freaking free speech issue.
She’s trying to help you grow as a writer. She knows more about writing than you do.
Take or leave the advice but don’t assume she was talking about your worldviews. She was talking about your writing.
I push my students to think about intersectionality in their work. I don’t think any of them are racist or sexist.
As an aside, am wondering why the OP mentioned at the outset of his post that he, as a sophomore at a small LAC, lives off campus. At many (most?) small LACs, most students live on campus, so that is less common. A sophomore having a fiancée is also less common. Just wondering if the OP somehow sees himself as different from the norm in some capacity. Individuality is a good thing, but so is being open to constructive criticism. Digging one’s heels in and defending their potentially narrow view is not the way to learn.
Go back to the professor and say that taking an entire class to stretch yourself isn’t doable at moment, but could she recommend a couple of keys books or articles to read in the same vein? If the professor is actually merely trying to “stretch” you as a writer, which is entirely possible, she should easily be able to provide a few key books or articles to demonstrate her point and get you thinking—without subjecting you to an entire course of study.
My wife is a writer and teacher, and one problem of beginning writers is that they will write stories in the exact same first-person voice, over and over, all using the same stock characters in the same predictable situations. The writing may show promise, but the writer will not grow and improve while writing the same thing over and over. That may be what the professor was getting at in her discussion with you.
Probably repeating much of what has already been said. Here’s my $.02:
Professors generally don’t invest their time in counseling a student outside of class unless they see something of value in that student. While the professor may have her preferences about subject matter, I don’t believe her motive was to call you racist or sexist. The fact that she recommended you take another class with her suggests that she respects you as a writer and wants to be involved in the development of your talent.
I think it might be tactful to go back to her and say, "I’ve thought more about what you said. In the moment, I was a bit defensive. I don’t feel as though I have enough life experience to invent characters along the lines you suggest. How do I do this without being accused of white male appropriation? ( @Lennon 's advice was spot on and better stated than what I just did) The professor may then circle around to taking her course. If so, I would be polite and noncommittal - “I’ll see if it will fit my schedule.”
How you follow up is entirely up to you. I would not file a complaint against this professor.
You will get all sorts of feedback as you go through life. Not all will be welcome, some may be petty or unjustified, and some may be very useful. Learning how to respond gracefully to criticism is a valuable skill. This may be a chance to put it into action.
Since the professor is a professional and should be genuinely trying to help you, I think the conversation would have been more constructive if she took a different tact. Of course we are getting one side of the conversation.
It could have gone:
Her - “Ok I like where you are going with your storyline but have some suggestions as to how to make your story appeal to a wider audience. Have you thought about exploring different characters or weaving different viewpoints into your story?”
You - “…I have not been not been exposed to those cultures, viewpoints, etc…”
Her - “Try having a few of your fellow students from those different backgrounds read your story and tell you what they like about it and what could make it more interesting or possibly relevant to them, etc”
You - “but I don’t have that many friends from other cultures, etc”
Her - “Part of being a good writer is considering your audience, etc, etc. There is a “insert club here of culture you are trying to learn” group meeting this Thursday. Why don’t you attend and see if you can learn what they are about and I’m sure someone would be glad to read your story and give you feedback”
You - “I had never thought about doing that”
Her - “Well my goal as a professor is to make you a more well rounded and creative writer, and this approach has worked many times when I have had writers that needed help in this area, etc, etc. I also offer classes in x an y if you want to dig deeper into these topics in a future semester. “
This approach is not pushing an agenda but is accomplishing the “diversity” goal in a more helpful, genuine way. You will find that often people of authority are used to one way conversations. Often they are not critiqued or provided guidance on how to deliver information appropriate for their audience. These are important skills for someone in a teaching profession. The reality is that great professors and bosses are often rare. They are human, with biases and faults, etc. Unless you feel there is blatant bias which is affecting your grade in the course, I would just use it as a life lesson on how to deal with people of authority. Later after the course if over, it may be worth a follow up meeting to give feedback about the course if your feedback is also without bias and you have a genuine interest in improving the course.
The professor was telling you that your writing shows promise and you are at a level where now you need to stretch, thus incorporate more characters in your writing.
Since you write fantasy/sci fi and invented a world (did I get that right?) your world necessarily has diversity. Even if all creatures are green, some will have spots and some will have copper hues. There may not be males and females but there may be snail-like gender shifting characters. If there are males and females, you can’t have just males in your story. Essentially, you have shown mastery of your world, time to expand it a bit and make it less one-dimensional. Include a female creature with a name and qualities/flaws that appear as the story progresses, a character that becomes important to the storytelling. Or whatever else…your main protagonist can’t be all alone. Doesnt he have friends?
Have you read Red Rising? That’s a pretty uniform world at first: all people are red and live underground. Females appear as catalyst agents only. And then it shifts and you understands this is the way that universe is constructed and why - then the world of the novelty expands. (Note that the writer of this novel is a conservative who attended an evangelical college and majored in classics.)
Even classics have diversity in culturally appropriate terms (slave/free/citizens, Chaldeans, Thebeans, Judeans, Gauls, and Egyptians, plus all the mythological creatures half human half beast, shape shifting, etc.) These would actually be very interesting to insert in your world.
So, I agree you should email your professor to say you have been thinking a lot about what she said. Ask for one or two books she would recommend, explain you want to create a rich world that feels organic to what you envisioned, and that of course not all characters are meant to be male but you aren’t sure yet how to go about writing female voices and don’t want to be inauthentic and disrespectful as you don’t want tokenism.
Lastly:
Did you actually say “I could easily add a (pointless/token/random) black female”? Or merely think it/ write it here? Because that would definitely be insulting.
@JuliusEvola I don’t know how I feel about this. I’m not sure that you both communicated in the best way to each other. I think what I would have said to you is… “I enjoy your writing. To reach more of your audience, often readers like to become part of the story with characters that they identify with. You do a great job writing from your own perspective. If you would like to expand your ability to write in different voices, please let me know and I’d be happy to help you.”