• All about writing

  Interested in joining a political writers group?

  Posted by Martin Roberts on 12 January 2024 at 18:51

  https://jerichowriters.com/townhouse/groups/political-writers/

  I am looking to form a group of writers who would regard their work as political in content. That is to say, not so much books about politics (Robert Peston) but books where the themes and the message are broadly political (Margaret Atwood). As a political writer I was disappointed to read Paul Lynch say that his Booker Prize winner, Prophet Song, is not political. It clearly is. I guess the PR people at Oneworld had briefed him to say this, fearing that the mention of the ‘P’ word would kill sales. Unfortunately they have a point – no one wants to be preached to and to brand a book political is not the first thought of the marketeers.
  So – anyone want to join me in discussing how to tackle this and the multitude of other challenges – both general and specific – that present themselves in this very important but much maligned genre?

  There’s so many things I would like to discuss, here’s a flavour:

  1. How not deliver a message but not be preachy
  2. How to develop unwoke characters but avoid being unwoke
  3. Challenges of speaking with authority on a subject which is outside your immediate experience (e.g. I’m a man – can I speak for women?)
  4. How to parachute fictional characters into factual events (one for the historical novelists here I feel)
  5. Can you / should you ever footnote in fiction?

  And so on.

  However – just to get things started – why don’t we introduce each other by naming the political books that have most influenced you (one would be great, shall we say max five?)

  Let me kick this off:

  1. The Road to Wigan Pier – George Orwell
  2. The End of History – Francis Fukuyama (for just how wrong someone can be!)
  3. A Room of One’s own – Virginia Woolf
  4. The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
  5. The Colour Purple – Alice Walker

  I look forward to hearing from you

  • This discussion was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by
    
     Martin Roberts.

  Unknown Member replied 1 year, 1 month ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Unknown Member

  This content has been hidden as the member is suspended.

Log In to Reply