Steven Brust's LJ (RSS Feed)
02-15-2008, 06:57 AM
Does an author have a responsibility to do anything for their readers, other than tell an entertaining story?
These questions came up tonight as I worked on a review of a young adult book which I’ll be publishing on the SF Site. I’m still thinking about my answers.
To give an example, I know I am bored to death of passive female protagonists — passive protagonists in general, really — who don’t actually DO anything but are simply tugged along by the story and the characters around them. This is annoying, and bad writing, but is it actually irresponsible?
Is the answer the same if the book is a kid’s book, something theoretically designed for young people who are finding themselves at least partly through the media they consume?
(Originally posted at Words Words Words (http://dreamcafe.com/words/2008/02/14/an-authors-responsibility/) by kit. Please leave any comments (http://dreamcafe.com/words/2008/02/14/an-authors-responsibility/#comments) there.)
(Original Post) (http://skzbrust.livejournal.com/75895.html)
These questions came up tonight as I worked on a review of a young adult book which I’ll be publishing on the SF Site. I’m still thinking about my answers.
To give an example, I know I am bored to death of passive female protagonists — passive protagonists in general, really — who don’t actually DO anything but are simply tugged along by the story and the characters around them. This is annoying, and bad writing, but is it actually irresponsible?
Is the answer the same if the book is a kid’s book, something theoretically designed for young people who are finding themselves at least partly through the media they consume?
(Originally posted at Words Words Words (http://dreamcafe.com/words/2008/02/14/an-authors-responsibility/) by kit. Please leave any comments (http://dreamcafe.com/words/2008/02/14/an-authors-responsibility/#comments) there.)
(Original Post) (http://skzbrust.livejournal.com/75895.html)