tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882687460473244397.post5412055865063920009..comments2024-03-28T00:14:06.559-07:00Comments on Author Katie M. John & Kate John: A Weight of Moral Responsibility?katie M Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607147343013281524noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882687460473244397.post-65156090477704457222011-02-04T09:26:51.447-08:002011-02-04T09:26:51.447-08:00Yes! Great topic. I have readers as young as 11 an...Yes! Great topic. I have readers as young as 11 and some as old as 60, but most are in their late teens, which means I can be a little more relaxed when it comes to what I tweet and post. I have had a few 'oh no can I post this?' moments, but I can't say I've had a situation where I've been horrified at a blog I've recommended. <br /><br />I believe in leading by example, and whilst I understand most readers tend to read above their age group, I wouldn’t want to be the cause of exposing a youngster to content their parents probably wouldn’t want them reading. However, as important as leading by example is I do think younger readers who may inadvertently be exposed to adult content appreciate that as authors we may personally enjoy a more mature read.<br /><br />I feel an obligation to my younger readers to warn them that something may not be appropriate for them (after all the decision is theirs to make not mine), but I would not consider myself (I'm going to steal your word here) sanctimonious by doing so. Merely aware of who my audience is, and the potential impact I might have supporting something adult in nature.<br /><br />Cool post!Miss Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09278839102817851843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882687460473244397.post-25207793945150347592011-02-04T08:51:36.887-08:002011-02-04T08:51:36.887-08:00Thanks Jeff for your excellent comments.
It can s...Thanks Jeff for your excellent comments. <br />It can sometimes seem that when you dare to talk about issues of authorial moral responsibility people immediately assume that you are somehow a repressive or incredibly sanctimonious. <br />I suppose I have just been surprised (distressed) by the 'normalisation' on the internet of what I would consider extreme gratuitous indulgence in violent sexual fantasies under the guise of 'writing'(And I'm a Bret Easton Ellis and Hans Bellmer scholar - LOL!)katie M Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05607147343013281524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882687460473244397.post-29809469888245535772011-02-04T00:57:04.151-08:002011-02-04T00:57:04.151-08:00Hi Katie,
I thought for sure I'd already follo...Hi Katie,<br />I thought for sure I'd already followed your blog. Guess not. <br /><br />Anyway, I have had a similar experience. A couple months back I naively had a guest blogger who I thought had written a humorous book. When I received the guest blogger's content I was blown away by the language and had to edit portions of the post (with the author's permission) because I teach a creative writing class to a group of jr./sr. high students - and some of them follow my every move! <br /><br />I can think of several cliches that will tell you how important it is to watch the company you keep. They may or may not apply in your case, but if you are trying to grow a platform in a certain genre, you ought to surround yourself with folks who live and breathe that lifestyle, and maintain the integrity of what that genre embodies. I'm not saying we should sensor anyone and I'm not saying those particular writers are bad either. But you can find a ton of YA authors to support - why not hang with them?<br /><br />Here's a few quotes I found on friendship.com. Thought they'd help... <br /><br />"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."<br />- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.<br /><br />"Have no friends not equal to yourself."<br />- Confucious (551 - 497 BC) Chinese philosopher.<br /><br />"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."<br />- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.<br /><br />"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice."<br />- Samuel Johnston, (as above)<br /><br />"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."<br />- George Washington (1732 - 1799) US Statesman.<br /><br />I particularly like the last one. Hope that helps!<br /><br />Jeff Bennington<br />Author of REUNION (Coming May 1, 2011), The Rumblin', Killing the Giants and creator of The Writing BombJeff Benningtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846791553554124991noreply@blogger.com