The absurdity of writing what you know

It’s often suggested to write what we know. Taking that to its extremes one can only write about oneself! Everything else is a stretch. Descartes said I think therefore I am. Want to write a historical novel, you weren’t alive then so how could you know. Want to write a character of the opposite sex, sorry you have the wrong equipment and mindset. Want to write about a person of a different race or culture, sorry, where do you get off.

All humans have hearts. That’s all you need to know to start. Knowing something in depth comes from study, research, observation, getting involved as best you can in the culture, race, time, situation. The richness of fiction would be lost without you the writer leaping off that cliff and because it’s fiction, you have wings.

What irks me is when someone in my industry questions how a male writer can write female characters, or enjoy romance. I inwardly laugh at this because the obvious counter is how can you write about males. Give up. Go home. Another rube is you can’t possibly know how I feel. The answer is yes I can. Maybe not with your intensity, but having a heart, I know. I write what I know. The emotion and commitment to civil and equal rights courses through my heart and keeps me alive.

Finally, some men actually enjoy romance. Some estimates put it at 30%. But what do men know? They fall in love too, otherwise, ladies, it would be better to hug a tree because it doesn’t bark back.

This blog, when I get around to it, will turn into a book on the male point of view in romance writing hopefully soon. The first couple years of this blog (long ago) is published as an ebook https://www.amazon.com/Tips-Primarily-Writing-Male-Characters-ebook/dp/B01A2GNKVM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=rw+richard&qid=1581808990&s=digital-text&sr=1-3

The next release will be definitive, complete, and only include tips on writing male characters. Guess what, you don’t need this book or the future one. You have a heart.

ABC Bachelor controversy

Compare and contrast what follows to the problems RWA has suffered through recently:
Victoria Fuller had gotten herself into a lot of hot water. She’s currently on ABC’s The Bachelor. She’s mesmerizingly beautiful with big doe eyes, a natural tan from what she says is a diverse background. But she has a problem. She modeled for a company that had her wear a shirt with logos she was told promoted protecting Marlins and she believed it. She comes from a big fishing town. The problem is the company also puts out confederate flag shirts and white lives matter shirts and caps. She wore a cap with the initials WLM not M(marlins)LM (she thought it was white marlins).

When this was brought up to her she said it was appalling and not her. Apparently, this will come up on the show, and it would be wise if it did, because using appalling isn’t enough to know if there was any malicious intent. Was she duped? Peter Weber said he in no way supports this type of campaign (white lives matter). The woman I witnessed on The Bachelor is adorable, witty, considerate, of mixed race. However, even if she meant no harm and didn’t know what she was wearing, she’ll pay a price for the mistake.

I feel I know this gal, so I’ll blame the manipulators. Regarding who’s best for Peter or who* he’ll choose, I don’t have a clue at this point. You see, Peter will treat each woman equally and with love and fairness and then follow his heart. *The bachelorettes are ethnically diverse as is Peter who’s mom is Cuban, and by the way, a former Miss Illinois.

For my readers out there who say white lives matter, you are missing the point. The BLM movement is saying that they matter just as much as anybody else and they call attention to it, via their logo. If you don’t see this inequity in society, this prejudice against blacks, get off my blog.

I know I have varied from the blog’s main purpose of presenting ideas for the man’s point of view in romance writing. I’ve been writing this blog for many years and have tapped out—aside from an occasional flash of insight—the subject.

Baby Boomer Bachelors

“You know what The Bachelor doesn't have enough of? Spin-offs. But actually, this newest Bach-adjacent dating show the producers seem to have up their sleeves is actually pretty revolutionary, because it's finally focusing on something that's often been an issue on the ABC show: age. Producer Lindsay Liles posted a casting call on Instagram looking for singles 65 and older to apply for an "exciting new dating show," which means an entire show without rolling our eyes at yet another 22-year-old getting out of the limo.” Kathryn Lindsay reporting for REFINERY29

ABC’s move will settle in somewhere between nice try and great. Great if they invest the time (in episodes) and nice try if they make it a quickie. I give them credit for doing what I figured would be a winner a while ago. The baby boomer population represents a huge chunk of audience and consumers.

Everybody wants love, and no less the seniors. They’re looking for seniors who maintain a fit lifestyle, so there’s no getting away from attractiveness. Will the younger followers of the regular bachelor series go for this? If the very positive comments by Bachelor alum and other young people, they’ll love it. They’re already sending pictures of their grandparents to ABC.



 Do you have a lonely widow or widower in your family? How many times did you wish they would find somebody to enjoy love with? My case rests, the rest of me too. After all the Super Bowl is on.