I’ve been thinking for some time that I should write a book. After seeing this post, my feelings that I should write are even stronger. The focus? Male privilege. The thing is, I’m a blogger, and I don’t know if I have it in me to write a book. The topic of privilege really interests me, though, and after doing a brief search and coming across books about the “myth” of male/masculine privilege, I think this might need to be written. I can think of a number of individuals who would be more qualified to write it than me, though. In fact, I know I have much to learn, so if I did decide to write it, it would be a long process.
Then I think, what do I have to lose? At the very least, I’ll learn more about privilege and maybe submit an article to a publication. At any rate, I’m thinking I should start reading more about privilege this summer and write a few pages, and see where it goes from there. This blog would probably be a good venue for me to bring up new ideas, too, and see how well they’re received, so I can work on them, if needed.
Anyway, I decided I had to get my thoughts out somewhere, and I figured this would be the best place. Feel free to offer any thoughts you have, where I need to work on as a writer, etc. I’m open to (constructive) criticism.
June 30, 2008 at 5:37 pm
That’d be great…maybe if you weren’t confident about writing a whole book you could put together an anthology of writing on male privilege? I’m sure you’d be able to find other keen writers/feminists who’d contribute, and having a male and female perspective on it may be interesting too.
Just an idea - if you wanted to go into loads of detail though, and focus on particular things, it might be better to stick to just you writing and see how much you have in you, be it a book or some articles - something is better than nothing! (Not that you’re doing nothing, obviously…)
June 30, 2008 at 9:12 pm
My advice? Just start writing, and don’t think about where or in what form it’ll end up. If you get preoccupied with that stuff, the real passion won’t come out in your writing. Do a brain/soul dump, and you can sculpt it into whatever form you need it to be.
July 1, 2008 at 2:40 am
Have you ever taken part in NaNoWriMo? If not, it’s an awesome opportunity to just write. I did it last year and I ended up with 30 000 words written (in one month). http://www.nanowrimo.org
July 1, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Caitlin,
I’ve thought about an anthology, but have no experience with that, and I think I’d prefer to write something on my own, as well. Anthologies interest me, though, and I’d like to hold a carnival here in the future to get a feel for what that would be like.
Amber,
Thanks, as usual, for the insight. Those are words I think I really need to learn to keep in mind.
Nicole,
I hadn’t heard of it, but I’m going to check it out now. Thanks!