Conventional blogging wisdom for fiction writers is that we should avoid talking about politics and religion. (Science fiction writers are perhaps the exception to this rule; see John Scalzi, one of the most prominent examples, and on the other side of the American left-right fence, Orson Scott Card.) The idea is that such views can be unnecessarily divisive and that by talking about them openly, we can alienate potential readers.
I have, for the most part, followed this advice. I don’t talk about religion on this blog or anywhere else, really. I rarely talk straight politics, although I couldn’t quite suppress my concerns about habeas corpus. But feminism keeps creeping in through the cracks of this blog and in the material I choose to share on the internet, and isn’t feminism at least partially a political issue? It certainly is a touchy one.
One result is that I’m been forced to rethink the conventional wisdom. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it is easier not to blog about religion or politics or social justice. And I can understand the choice not to do so when it feels like a livelihood hangs in the balance of what we allow ourselves to discuss. Plus some of us find conflict to be very unpleasant. But at what point does talking about matters of importance become more of a question of conscience?
Does blogging give you a voice?
I’m not talking about being safe here. There’s this trend that happens in the science fiction blogosphere, wherein a few of the really big bloggers share their opinions of a current issue, followed by a quiet ripple of smaller bloggers chiming in with “Me too”s and “basically exactly what has already been said about this issue in almost the same words.” Because when we follow in the footsteps of the big guns, then we’re relatively secure. I’m not saying it’s bad to offer a show of support, but it’s not the same as pushing the discussion forward. The conventional wisdom is consunmately safe.
Let’s talk about danger instead. If, as a writer, we develop a greater reach, then we have to decide how to use that reach. We have a greater ability to help, and an equally heightened ability to harm. We can set the topic of conversation instead of merely echoing and reacting. We can affect the way people view the world, often subconsciously, through our stories and our words. We can decide whether to point something out as problematic or whether to be silent and let it float on in obscurity. And whether we like it or not, these abilities come with certain responsibilities.
We don’t have to blog about politics or religion, not if we don’t want to. We can choose to communicate exclusively through our fiction. But at some point, I think every artist has to ask, “What am I really trying to say here? What do I really need to say about human experience and about the world? What might I be saying by accident that I don’t actually want to be saying?”
But sometimes, we might be compelled to blog about something risky, about something uncomfortable. And sometimes we are willing to pay the price for having a voice. In which case, that conventional wisdom can go right out the window. There are times when safety is not the most important goal.
What do you think? Do you ever talk about politics or religion on your blog or over social media? Are there issues that you feel compelled to talk about, even though they lack an approved-for-fiction-writers (or approved-for-polite-conversation) stamp?
The Practical Free Spirit 
I think any rule, written or unwritten, that says writers can’t write about something is crazy. I mean, if something needs to be said (written) the people I want most to say it are the writers.
You might lose some potential readers, that is true. You might gain some readers, that is also true. Either way, if you feel strongly enough about something you should write about it. Otherwise you are doing a disservice to yourself and the point of view you care about.
This is easier said than done, of course. It does take quite a bit of courage.
Yes, it definitely takes courage. I had an entire Backbone Project to help me build that courage last year. 🙂 But I tend to agree with you that often you’ll break out even, unless you’re being a complete raging meanie-face (and maybe even sometimes then).
+200 points for you for using the phrase “complete raging meanie-face”. Love it! 🙂
I mentioned on my blog today that I unfriended someone on Facebook because of her constant political rants. I’m very careful about what I show the world. I don’t want their perception of me colored by my politics, religion or sexual preference.
Other things that are important to me like feminism, animal welfare and a nontoxic environment come through my blog posts without ever having to utter those words. I hope I lead by example when I write about my experiences rather than preaching to the masses.
It’s a fine line to walk, isn’t it? Because I’ve seen those constant political rants you’re talking about, and they can be unpleasant or too much at times. And any kind of proselytizing…well. I’m not interested in doing that. Enough said.
But sometimes issues do come up that are sensitive and yet worthy of discussion.
If you call yourself a writer then you are in the business of sacrificing a lot of things for your art, because (and I think this important) you cannot say what you want to say any other way. A painter paints because painting allows them to “say” what matters. A fiction writer does the same (no matter the type of fiction).
If at any point you as a writer finds that the answer to the question “What do I really need to say about human experience and about the world?” is not being answered in your writing then you need to writer differently (or better!)
But as far as blogging is concerned, I always thought it was a great place to explore the “how” to put thoughts on paper…which means if you want to explore some touchy topics (and touchy is such a subjective thing) then the blog would be a great place to try to do it, especially if you have a good following with people who care about you and your writing.
So you put some thoughts down on “paper” and see how it reads to a self-selected fan audience. Without a doubt you will get answers to the question “What might I be saying by accident that I don’t actually want to be saying?”
This will sharpen your craft, plus it is a good and healthy exercise. With the added bonus that it will probably help your readers understand you better.
p.s. I am assuming that you are not talking about the more typical incendiary hate-blogging type of posts, but actually something you are passionate but about which you can write with some trepidation.
You are correct in your ps. Incendiary hate-blogging, trolling and troll-baiting, etc. are not things I am tempted by.
I think perhaps a lot depends on the tone of what one writes in a blog, as to how others will receive it. Maybe? Hmm.
I write a lot about both politics and religion when I blog, and more so when I use social networking in general. I know it’s lost me some Facebook friends, but it’s a reflection of me in real life, so those “friends” wouldn’t have appreciated spending too much time with me, either.
For things I don’t feel comfortable sharing with everyone, I share with limited groups (something FB and G+ make very easy to do).That’s harder on the blog, which is why in the past I created separate, more “private” places to write and shared those with only some friends. This decision was made easy when I returned from lunch at work one day to find all my coworkers reading my previously-unfiltered stuff.
I think filters in social media can work really well for some people, but then I rarely use filters myself. At the point in which I am prepared for everything I put on social media to be someday public, it becomes harder for me to think in terms of filters. Which is perhaps silly of me and overly black and white. I’ll have to think about this more.
I think arguing is really fun. But when I argue on the internet, there’s an audience, and that’s kind of scary. In my personal life, I try to never engage in an argument that leaves anyone thinking worse of me. But on the internet, people don’t know me well. They have no wellspring of good feeling to counterbalance any temporary idiocy that might come out of my fingers. People on the internet will not give me the benefit of the doubt (and, honestly, they have no reason to do so).
Thus, I try to be really, really careful about what I say. It’s hard for me to remember that the internet is not just an extension of face to face to dialogue. But the permanent record and the public visibility make it a dangerous place. If I say one stupid thing in one blog post, there’s a fair chance that it could be picked up by some other blog and picked apart by an audience 100x larger than my blog’s readership. For all of those people, the first encounter they’ll ever really have with me is that one really dumb thing that I said.
In my writing, I’m willing to take larger risks, because that’s something that I think hard about and revise carefully. It’s also something that is, usually, vetted by other people (the acquiring editor, if no one else). The blog doesn’t have any of those advantages. I bang out my posts in an hour (usually late at night) and I often don’t reread them before posting. So, yeah, I try to be really careful. And if the blog comments do become argumentative, I try to think really carefully about my responses.
I try to be really careful as well. But no matter how careful I am, I know something could slip by me. And yes, I am perhaps even more careful in the comments, because I want to give real consideration to what other people are saying. I have learned so much by blogging and listening to people’s responses.
sometimes, we might be compelled to blog about something risky, about something uncomfortable
i have far more uncomfortable things to discuss than my faith – which really in the grand scheme of things i don’t discuss that often, or at least not as often as i used to. i don’t think i’ve ever blogged politics but i have been tweeting my politics left and right (does tumblr count as blogging? because i’ve reblogged politics over there quite a bit).
I think tumblr counts. Or at least, it counts as social media usage. And yes, there are certainly a lot of risky topics out there, some of which have absolutely nothing to do with either politics or religion.
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award!
http://mikeallegra.com/2012/05/26/my-versatility-responsibility/
‘Cause I love your blog.
All the best,
Mike
Thank you so much, Mike, for the unexpected ray of sunshine. 🙂
Honestly, who makes up these rules anyway? I blog about whatever I feel the urge to write about, and yes, my faith comes into it because it’s something I’m passionate about – what’s the point of having a blog if you’re going to write only about “safe” topics? Not that I’m totally free from the fear of negative reactions – I’m human. But as soon as I feel that fear, as soon as I hear the voice saying “don’t write about this, people won’t like it”, I think: oh, fear is trying to get me to shut up – I’d better write this and keep writing till I hit Post.
Ha! I tend to hit publish when I feel fear about a post too. I just read it over extra carefully and edit it a little more thoroughly first. Because you’re right, the posts I’m nervous about are usually deeply important to me, so how can I not publish them once they’re written?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I’d like to point you to Denverite Erika Napoletano and her talk at SXSW:
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP100040
Her message seems to boil down to in the modern social media world, it’s all about being honest and being who you are. You want the listeners and the readers who will love you for being you, and you don’t want the ones who won’t. We’ve left the plain vanilla mass media age.
I find writing that speaks to politics and religion and the human condition interesting. What would Dune have been without politics and religion? Or Left Hand of Darkness? The Hyperion Cantos?
I’m not interested in writers talking about candidates. I find that off-putting. But, issues. By all means. Just don’t pretend to be something you’re not. That said, it’s not about being a jerk either.
Yes, I think there’s a middle ground. The trick is develop a sense for where that middle ground is so you can consistently land in it instead of going too far and ending up in jerk or annoying person territory.
“Conventional blogging wisdom for fiction writers is that we should avoid talking about politics and religion.”
I might think fiction writers don’t blog about controversial topics because they share their opinions via their other writing (i.e. what is submitted for publication.) I suppose it is safe to avoid controversial topics to avoid alienating any blog readers who are potential readers of your published work. Should authors or anyone else really play it that safe though?
I think there’s a fine line between commenting on current events or sharing your opinions and proselytizing or hamfisted radical browbeating of a viewpoint. On the internet it’s incredibly difficult to make yourself clear and avoid getting trolled or nitpicked to death But if anything, blogging about such things with a level of calmness rather that fiery rhetoric may do some good in presenting the issue in a levelheaded light.
I would say ultimately it’s your blog where you share your thoughts and opinions. And you will self-filter something you write that you perhaps can’t express right or you decide wouldn’t go over well with your audience maybe you file it on your computer rather than post it – just as if you might chose not to submit for publication every piece of fiction you write.
P.S. This issue – especially the reference to sci-fi writers being “exempt” – reminds me of an experience at DragonCon 2011. Attending a panel on the topic more or less of “Socialism & Alternate History Fiction” one of the panelists was author Eric Flint who said “I’m a communist, but nobody else is so I don’t write about communism.” [paraphrased] Which I found very surprising.
Well, I was kind of kidding about the sf writers being exempt. 🙂 But there are several big examples who tend to talk about politics more than most other writers I know, for what that’s worth. Of course, there are also plenty of them who never talk about it.
I completely agree with you about that fine line. I’m constantly feeling around and trying to figure out where it is. Makes blogging more interesting, though! I think what is more likely to be true is that you can blog about controversial stuff, but tone matters and you have to be prepared to take some flak. As to whether it will adversely affect sales, I’d love to have some data about that but for now it’s all pure speculation.