We’ve been taking about diversity in publishing quite a bit, both on the writing end and the reading end of things. This TED talk focuses on what it means to have a voice, and what it means to be heard, as well as the importance of being a good listener. While Andrew Losowsky is talking about the broad scope of publishing, his ideas carry out to all areas of life. His argument really illustrates the importance of developing a publishing industry that includes and respects all types of experiences and points of view. Definitely worth the time to watch. Not only is it an interesting talk, but it might help any of you currently asking yourself how you can include diverse characters in your work-in-progress without trampling on someone else’s culture or story. Enjoy!
TED Talks
Wired for Story
Why are books important? Why should we continue reading once we’ve finished school? What is it about a good movie that resonates with us long after we leave the theater? Why do we need diverse, inclusive media that looks at different lives and different points of view?
As book lovers and/or film buffs, we might simply say we love to read, we love to go to the movies. Maybe we enjoy the thrill of living vicariously through someone else’s story, or perhaps we appreciate the escape from our own daily grind. If we’re feeling a little bit more analytical, we might add that reading expands the mind, or that film can be art, or any other number of reasons, all of which are good and true.
But what about the how of things? How do books and films — story in general — affect us in these profound ways? What is it about a good story that becomes a part of us? Lisa Cron explains in her TEDx Talk, Wired for Story. Whether you consider yourself a devoted reader, a film aficionado, a writer, or combination, or just a human being going through life, this is a fascinating look at how we learn and absorb and form our impressions of the world, and how story is inextricably twined with our approach to life.
Myths, Misfits, & Masks
Imagine growing up without any cultural icons or heroes who look like you? Or, even worse, imagine that everyone held up in the media who does look like you is being identified for having committed a crime. What would that do to your sense of self? How would it shape your goals for the future? And how do you think those stereotypes can be corrected?
In this TED Talk geared toward teens (but applicable to all), comic book editor Sana Amanat talks about growing up Muslim in the United States in the wake of the first attack on the World Trade Center, how her experiences affected her, and where she sought refuge. Her talk is interesting on multiple levels, but above all it serves to highlight the importance of having diverse characters in published works and also diversity behind the scenes.
All the Different Stories
March is women’s history month. February was black history month. Someone asked me recently why we still needed black history month. The question had me flummoxed, not because I agreed that the month was unnecessary but because I couldn’t understand why we wouldn’t still celebrate the month. These dedicated days or months get determined for a reason — generally because some aspect of our society is under appreciated or insufficiently discussed and some organization decides it’s important to highlight it and call attention to it.
Growing up in the United States, going to school, learning the lessons we’re taught as children, most of us get a very specific view of our nation’s and the world’s histories. But the truth is that there are many points of view, many different stories out there, and in order to live in this world and get along with all of its varied populations, it’s important to widen our grasp of what constitutes the truth. Everyone’s experiences are valid, and not all of them are similar.
There are many stories being told right now, socially, in the news, politically, through science, and in the arts. Publishing is just one corner of the world, one arena where we can exercise our right to tell and explore those different stories.
I posted this TED talk previously, but I think it’s so important and so spot on in talking about why it’s important to embrace those different stories that I’m posting it again. In it, writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks about the dangers of only having a single story.
Andrew Stanton: The Clues to a Great Story
The following is a wonderful TED talk from filmmaker Andrew Stanton of Pixar, who’s responsible for such great movies as TOY STORY and WALL-E. He discusses the components of a great story, and how the staff at Pixar developed their unique and successful storytelling style.
Please note: Stanton kicks of with a joke in which he swears exactly once (out of the nearly twenty minutes of presentation). Fair warning if you’re offended by profanity.
Who Are Your Characters?
There’s been much discussion on how writers delve into characters whose experiences are different from their own. By this I mean less creating new races for your science fiction novel, and more exploring other cultures that exist in the real world. Unless your story has a small, isolated cast, it will require some diversity, and it’s important to think about how you represent those other people. You want to be authentic, to avoid cliche.
Which begs the question, who are people, really? What makes your characters feel true to life, regardless of race, sex, religion, etc? And how can you be true to them as people while still making them fresh and surprising?
The following TED Talk takes a wonderful look at identity, and being true to yourself and your desires, even when those might go against cultural assumptions. I hope it provides some inspiration on the creative front as well.
Keeping the Mystery Alive
How do you write a page-turner? Keep the reader asking questions. Or, one question, really: What happens next? This does not only apply to a mystery novel. No matter your genre, you want your reader to engage with the story, with your characters. Your reader should be anxious to learn where the next chapter will lead them. Yes, you need to answer those questions occasionally, at least in part, but there should always be a new question or two popping up to keep things interesting. And that big question? The one that drives your protagonist’s story arc? You better hold out on answering that one until the bitter end.
What are the big questions? Which questions are the ones that have a reader staying up late to get those ultimate answers? They might not be the ones you think they are. In the TED Talk below, writer/director J.J. Abrams talks about keeping the mystery going, and about the surprising moments that make a good story that much better. This runs just shy of twenty minutes, so set aside a bit of time to watch.