Why Writers Shouldn’t Disconnect Themselves From the Real World
Apologies for the lack of posts related to writing lately. The blog posts and politics seems to flow fine, but as I said in a previous post, fiction isn’t coming to me at the moment.
An article in The New York Times was bemoaning the growth of technology and how it renders some plots obsolete, saying:
Technology is rendering obsolete some classic narrative plot devices: missed connections, miscommunications, the inability to reach someone. Such gimmicks don’t pass the smell test when even the most remote destinations have wireless coverage.
Beyond a general feel that a lot of writers are technophobes, reading these kinds of articles leaves me with cause for concern of my fellow writers. Granted, not all are of this vein but writers seem to want to create worlds that suit them, and shape the world to fit their plot regardless of its connection to reality.
Sure, there are examples such as fantasy where this is a benefit or necessary but I’m wondering whether writers want to confront the real world and comment on what is actually happening in front of their faces.
Technology exists and its part of the setting and world writers must write about. It seems that if something doesn’t fit with their skewed view of the world, they’d rather just cut it out. If you do that, like cut out technology or some major part of society, can these writers still pass their work off as social commentary? I tend to think not.
Then again, I may be totally off the mark but this sense that writers are disconnected from reality has been floating around my head. Does anyone feel this way, or at least see what I’m getting at?
I would actually think that ‘miscommunications’ might be a more plausible plot device than previously. I know with chatting to people over the internet it can be very difficult to interpret statements without the aid of facial expression and body language. And text messages – well, they’re a language all their own.
But I agree, writers need to be part of the world around them to write effectively and engagingly.
Isaac’s last blog post..Tuesday tidy-up
I agree. Technology opens up so many more possibilities. Technological problems is another way this happens.
Good pt, Isaac–I totally agree! Yes, Ben, we should in some way deal with the ever growing saturation of technology in our culture
I agree with Isaac’s comment about chatting over the internet. Often when I’m on MSN I find myself straining to convey the proper meaning to go with my words.
I also agree that techology (and technological problems) can open up a great many possibilities for writers.
C R Ward’s last blog post..Whimsical Wednesday
Actually, Benjamin, as you live in OZ you must be aware that very little of the country is actually covered by wireless technology.
While the feds can easily track your mobile phone from satellite and laser pointers were banned becauser they can easily dstroy syrveillance cameras – while they cannot blind pilots – most of the world is still outside the direct communications networks of the hideous control freaks.
Without a satellite uplink I still have to travel 50km to upload my drivel!
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Intriguing post, Benjamin! Obviously, each person is unique, but I would certainly agree that the advances in technology and how it is being used (eg, Twitter) have become so rapid now that many of us are left feeling a little uncertain just what’s going on. Add the fact that people vary widely in their adoption of the new technology, and what is up-to-the-minute for one reader or writer may still seem years into the future for others, or even passe. In other words, there is no one standard that we’ve all reached, or would know what to do with if it were handed to us on a silver platter. What’s a writer to do?
Perhaps some tend to steer around it. Clearly some are total geeks in their personal lives, so they feel quite at home featuring the latest technology in their writing.
Since I write fantasy based in other-world environments, I don’t have to deal with it directly, but I have also thought how it would impact me when I do write a story set in our own world. It would depend on the decade I set the story in, and the lives of the characters, as to how much or little they would know or use or have access to.
I have also noticed that certain plot devices no longer work, most notably due to the abundance of cell phones. How do you not reach someone in this day and age, assuming that someone is the typical, well-connected urbanite? Worth pondering.
Thanks for sharing such an interesting posting.
And please keep making the effort to write and plan and edit and all that. Writers write. Please write! I want to hear about a novel nearing completion, and the day your first novel appears in print!
Best wishes,
Adrian