para_noir
05-02-2008, 01:38 PM
Hello....
Well the title says it all i guess...one of my characters is suicidal. And there is a scene where I describe her trying to kill herself....
I hope to get this book published some day...so will it be turned down because of this? Since suicide is a very tender subject....and its looked down upon. So will i get rejected because of this? :eek:
Also, are there any other subjects/areas I should stay away from when writing?
Cogito
05-02-2008, 02:03 PM
Suicide is often written about, and published. Subjects taboo for publishers may depend on the publisher (a Christian publishing house would likely refuse to publish a book featuring cannabalism), the country in which the publisher resides (a book glorifying kiddie porn would be unlikely to find a mainstream publisher in North America), and how you cast the subject (a comedy based on racial stereotyping would have a hard time selling in most markets).
Banzai
05-02-2008, 02:14 PM
I wouldn't say steer clear of any subject really- just pay close attention to how you deal with the more controversial ones. As long as you handle things with a close eye on morality and taste, then you won't have a real problem. And as Cogito said, suicide is written about frequently enough.
Cogito
05-02-2008, 02:21 PM
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World
Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted
Just to name three off the top of my head
bamXkasey
05-02-2008, 02:32 PM
Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted
I love that book. (: & the movie.
MumblingSage
05-02-2008, 05:11 PM
Yeah, it's pretty much just a matter of being tasteful and sensitive when dealing with contraversial issues. I've read stories that made me pity child rapists (granted, I didn't find out they were pedophiles until near the end of the book, but still...), so I see the current publishing market as very openminded.
Heather Louise
05-03-2008, 03:23 PM
Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted that book is amazing. Another one to read along those lines is called Buyt Inside I'm screaming, by Eizabeth Flock I think.
and as for writing about suicide, jst appraoch it with a little bit of sesitvity and it will be allright
Cogito
05-03-2008, 03:28 PM
Actually, my first short story posted on this site was about suicide and consequences.