tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post5467417287149521980..comments2024-01-01T18:42:01.363-08:00Comments on International Christian Fiction Writers: Writing about CultureLisa Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358581487206184033noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-12422416625083440192014-04-24T23:37:22.732-07:002014-04-24T23:37:22.732-07:00Sometimes, it depends on the situation and the cha...Sometimes, it depends on the situation and the character who is speaking. The worldview is slightly different, too. Generally speaking, the church and Christian world is less conservative here than in many parts of the US. Aussie Christian fiction books that fit well in our culture may accidentally offend US Christian readers for this reason. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-9394185793573097312014-04-23T19:45:06.119-07:002014-04-23T19:45:06.119-07:00Totally agree re your choosing to say 'people ...Totally agree re your choosing to say 'people who are blind', Leanne, and your reason for doing so--it's a very important point. That is what I usually say, but in the interests of brevity here, I didn't. My apologies if I have offended anyone in the process.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-27707219889465801322014-04-23T13:17:19.302-07:002014-04-23T13:17:19.302-07:00Narelle, do you use those speech differences to po...Narelle, do you use those speech differences to portray your character, or are they too confusing to American readers? If for one, would be disappointed if an Aussie character talked just like me. And what about the worldview that must be different too?LeAnne Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11433010038077925237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-50159977567116524222014-04-23T13:15:26.414-07:002014-04-23T13:15:26.414-07:00Jo-Anne, I hadn't thought of people who are bl...Jo-Anne, I hadn't thought of people who are blind as I guess we should say (since they are people first and only secondarily blind) being a culture that could be misrepresented, but obviously they are! Then there are people who are deaf or disabled in some other way. And the whole immigrant or refugee experience which is so different in different times and places. Books are such a great way to enter someone else's experience--IF it is authentically presented.LeAnne Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11433010038077925237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-57489841632360136332014-04-23T01:36:39.209-07:002014-04-23T01:36:39.209-07:00LeAnne, you'd be surprised by the small, every...LeAnne, you'd be surprised by the small, every day differences. Copy editing issues. Cell phones are called mobiles here. Sidewalks are called footpaths. Thongs are footwear, not intimate apparel. A number of our expressions have British origins. <br /><br />I've learned during my trips to the US that most Americans will automatically say 'Your welcome.' in response to being thanked. We might say 'No problem.' or 'No worries.' or 'Okay.'<br /><br />'You're welcome.' isn't a common phrase that rolls off the tongue. If an Aussie character in a book said 'You're welcome' too often, we would find it odd. It's the little things that can jolt a reader out of the story. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-83738875198794097162014-04-22T15:37:40.025-07:002014-04-22T15:37:40.025-07:00Such an interesting post, Leanne--thanks for givin...Such an interesting post, Leanne--thanks for giving us this window into what sounds like an excellent writing conference to be part of. While I haven't had to deal with the exact points you mention when writing my novels, I did have to be very careful with my first two, which featured a Czech heroine during and after the war in Europe and then her journey as a migrant to Australia. It involved lots of research and talking with other migrants from that era. And in a different way, when writing my third novel, which features a blind girl, I had to listen very carefully to what my vision impaired friends shared with me. One mentioned the point, for example, that blind people are often portrayed as excellent singers or musicians, which isn't always the case! It happened that the girl who inspired my novel WAS a wonderful songwriter, but she took me to task about stereotyping blind people in this way or any other.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-23762097047478364122014-04-22T07:29:20.591-07:002014-04-22T07:29:20.591-07:00So Narelle, do you have to "translate" y...So Narelle, do you have to "translate" your characters for American audiences? What actions or language us needs interpretation?LeAnne Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11433010038077925237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-38151083858330033272014-04-22T03:35:16.346-07:002014-04-22T03:35:16.346-07:00LeAnne, fascinating post! Cultural differences can...LeAnne, fascinating post! Cultural differences can be stark, as you've described in your post, or very subtle. I write Australian characters in an Australian setting for a US audience, and there are many cultural differences and nuances to take into account. I agree, it's easier to write an authentic story if you're part of the culture.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.com