by Eric D. Goodman
Member since:
January 17, 2007

Are You a Regional Writer?

March 07, 2007 01:14 PM EST
views: 86 | comments: 29

Sue Monk Kidd is the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair.  Coming from the small southern town of Sylvester, Georgia, there is no question that place is a preeminent part of her writing.  But would she go as far as to consider herself a regional writer?

 

This question came up when she appeared at the National Book Festival in Washington DC.  Her answer?

 

“I don’t consider myself a Southern writer, but I’ll claim the title.  I think where you are and where you came from become a part of a novelist’s writing whether intentional or not.”

 

Good writing often begins as regional writing, as Sue Monk Kidd implies.  And many authors get their starts as regional writers.  What do you think?  Are your favorite writers regional writers?  Are you?

 

Learn more about Sue Monk Kidd at her website.

 

http://www.suemonkkidd.com/

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Comments: 29

Ron Jenkins Mar 7, 2007, 1:18pm EST
A lot of people write regionally, because it's what the know. When you try to write fiction based on the unknown, even with research, it's tough to get into the reality of the place.
Brenda Tucker Mar 7, 2007, 1:27pm EST
I'm very definitely a regional writer. I've only been serious about writing for about 3 years and have never had formal education. Though I've travelled all around these United States and Canada, my writing is still very much from the Tennessee hills and the south. It's not only where I'm from, it's what I love.

bren
Deb J. Mar 7, 2007, 1:34pm EST
Fiction-regional : the authors I like, Nora Roberts, Luanne Rice, Kristen Hannah
Shannon C. Mar 7, 2007, 1:51pm EST
The author's comments apply to a lot of labels we put on writers -- "Christian writer," for example. Why are Beverly Lewis and Tim LaHaye filed in the inspirational section but not Amy Tan and John Grisham, whose faith also affects their writing?
Yes, I am. I'm called the "Genesee Valley Writer" by local literary types, and most of my settings are very intimately linked with this area. Sometimes (like in Mazurka, my third book), I take my characters to places I've been or lived - like Europe, or Maine. But I always come back to good old Upstate NY. ;o) Interesting post, thanks!
Yeah. However, a lot of my favorite writers are "regional" even though the "region" was one of their own crafting!
I don't write fiction (as of yet) but do consider myself to be a regional writer. Sometimes I stretch the truth of the region a bit, but nonetheless, it's what I know best.
Carol Lloyd Mar 7, 2007, 3:02pm EST
I don't write fiction
Paula C. Mar 7, 2007, 3:15pm EST
One of the first things I learned in college was to write what you know. Sue just proves that's true.
Gordon Swanson Mar 7, 2007, 3:57pm EST
I don't write fiction, but one of my books is military based from Fort Lee, Virginia, and another is a Disaster Recovery plan best used for the South, but could be used anywhere. I enjoy reading all regions as long as they are non-fiction, such as the one I am now reading titled -From Hope to Higher Ground by Governor of Arkansas. Just the last evening on the news I heard he may run for President. Seems like an interesting guy from his book.
Anne B. Grote Mar 7, 2007, 4:41pm EST
My ReadingGroup read The Secret Life of Bees and we loved it. It became so popular here that we discussed it at our school's reading discussions and all the students loved it too.
Eric D. Goodman Mar 7, 2007, 4:49pm EST
Yes, I guess there are different ways of looking at regional writing. Some writers are connected to one region and set much of their work there. Others look for new places to write about, so each book is regional, but each book has its own region. Multi-regional, perhaps?

But, as Shannon suggests, they're just labels. Like the previous post about historical novels. Or "alternative" music.
Robb F. Mar 7, 2007, 4:49pm EST
I answer "yes" and "no" When I write a poem entitled "Runnin' The Dawgs" and nail it with a tag like "redneck poetry," I aim to be a "regional writer." On the other hand, when I post an article, "How To Build An Industrial Chic Table," regionality has no significance. I suppose it is a factor of the intended audience, the type of writing, and the information to be conveyed.
Rob Appell Mar 7, 2007, 4:52pm EST
I wouldn't call myself a regional write, though I have posted a couple times on the towns where I live. I'm more of a general writer and touch on whatever topic pops into my head...if I can be called a writer at all yet. I'm attempting to write, so maybe I should be a literary explorer...until I find that niche where i belong.
Robb F. Mar 7, 2007, 5:22pm EST
Rob,

Start a new group: "Literary Explorers" and send me an invite, that's the category I should use rather than call myself a "writer."
Mary McCartt Mar 7, 2007, 5:52pm EST
I think my writing reflects the places I have lived and the attitudes there, but wouldnt particularly be called regional. More Generic regions I think. I loved The Secret Life of Bees but was not too crazy about The Mermaid Chair. I didnt think the same person wrote them both to be honest but they were definitely written by Kidd. I think they were worlds apart in story line, the depth of the characters and the settings. "Mermaid" didnt seem real to me. But thats just me.
Dennis Leppanen Mar 7, 2007, 5:58pm EST
Yes, write what you know. With good prose, every region is interesting.
Cecile V. Mar 7, 2007, 6:35pm EST
Hm.... I guess I'm a ghosttown mining camp regional writer ;-)
Jennifer N. Mar 7, 2007, 7:30pm EST
Yes, and no. I write my stories in New Jersey. I live in Wisconsin. I've live more than 20 years in NY, though and NJ is similar. (I needed that location since WI and NY didn't have a law in place that a plot required.)

I've been to NJ a couple times... and to the city the novel takes place twice. Naturally I still needed A LOT of research on it all.
Lisa Gensheimer Mar 7, 2007, 8:16pm EST
Yes, I guess you'd say I'm a regional writer. The documentaries we develop are drawn from local history but have national significance.

Like the Wall Street Journal or New York Times lead paragraph, a local story is a great way to illustrate a larger issue.

Have you read Anne Tyler? Her stories are placed in Baltimore but her characters have universal appeal.
Mariana T. Mar 8, 2007, 12:51pm EST
I live my life on the West Coast as if I'm living in a novel but yes, I guess in a way I am a regional writer since the four books I've written are all about a particular region of Southwest Louisiana. The fifth one is as well but it's because all these folks live down there and they tell me their own stories. I do like Bailey White from Georgia, James Lee Burke from Louisiana, I do love Ernest Gaines - he and James are not exactly regional though most of their work is centered in Louisiana. Ok, let me see if I missed something. Good question, Eric. Thanks. Salud.
Mariana T. Mar 8, 2007, 1:10pm EST
hi Lisa - yes, I love Anne Tyler and I've noticed that about many writers especially the popular ones...they write and research about the areas they know and that's the strength of their writing. Isabel Allande one of my favorite authors lives in San Francisco but grew up in Chile and Venezuela. Her work is always based on the culture where she came from...the same as Ana Castillo, another favorite writer. Charles Bukowski stuck with Los Angeles barrooms and he had quite a following...then look at Anne Rice...she came from the Irish channel area of New Orleans and moved away for years then moved back, wrote all those wonderful and well-researched novels and now is back in Calif again. She knew her characters and her area and researched the hell out of everything. Anyway, where was I going with this...Oh yes, Carolyn Chute and E. Annie Prouxl are the same - they write about their regions but their characters have universal appeal...that's a strong writing ability! Salud.
Jean x. Mar 9, 2007, 10:12am EST
One of my favorite authors is Piers Anthony he's well beyond regional writing, but then again the map of his world Xanth is a picture of Florida. I don't think regionality is bad in a writer, allowing others to be able to feel what it would be like to live there is wonderful and commendable. Much better than us who don't even write on earth.

I just think sometimes it harder to write about your city or town, your country then to just make one up in your head. Fiction specifically Sci Fi/Fantasy in my opinion requires more skill to tell the truth.
Eric D. Goodman Mar 9, 2007, 1:03pm EST
Yes, I enjoy Anne Tyler's work. That's a good example of the type of "regional" writing I like -- the region is a part of the story, but the characters and themes are universal.

Thanks for all the great comments, everyone!
Jo H. Mar 9, 2007, 4:33pm EST
Eric, I rated this a 10, but Gather only credited my ranking with a 9! Horrors! Anyway, all of the comments and the question itself are worth a ranking of 10. I have always been taught to "write what you know", but I doubt seriously that Tolkien knew any hobbits or dragons or elves. I think as you seem to: that the best books are those where characters and themes are universal. Having said that, one of my biggest pet peeves is non-Native American writers attempting to write about a culture they know nothing of, making it up as they go along, perhaps based upon myths and the work of anthropologists, whom American Indian people often lied to anyway, just to see if they'd believe what we told them. They usually did. Ah, well.
Eric D. Goodman Mar 12, 2007, 10:37am EDT
Jo, some of my past posts have been about the researchd debate: how much should you do? I tend to side on the "enough" side, because so many writers do so much research that they never get to the story -- or the research overtakes what they end up writing.

However, I think when it comes to writing about other cultures from an internal point of view, it is important to get it right. It's one think to have a European explorer narrating a story and giving his perspective, but if a writer wants to write from the Native American POV, it needs to be accurate.

That said, there are exceptions to every rule. No matter how "right" you get it, someone is likely to find fault with it.

But I know what you mean ... some people seem to go into the story with absolutely no research.
Ishbel R. Mar 12, 2007, 11:01am EDT
I am very often drawn to the 'Scottish writers' sections in my local book shops. The section is displayed separately from the rest of theUK books, and I think it is often a marketing ploy for the many tourists who visit Edinburgh! BUT, I like the sense of place that I get from many of our local authors, like Ian Rankin (Edinburgh and Fife), Denise Mina (Glasgow and other west coast towns), Iain Banks (in his non-SF books).
Lea M. Sep 25, 2007, 12:59am EDT
What makes my fiction "special" is my knowledge of the region in which my stories are set.

The scents, tastes, textures, temperatures, and sounds are what make a story come alive.

You'd better know them inside and out or readers will definitely point it out to you. :-(
Karen G. Oct 13, 2008, 6:20pm EDT
I would say Stephen King typifies the regional writer. Almost all of his books are based whole or in part in Maine.

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