If you’re a male writing from a female POV, or vice
versa, or a writer of one race writing from any other race POV, then this post
is for you. It can also apply to any adult writing YA, or let’s take it a step
further, a senior adult (55+) writing as a twenty-something.
The term profiling, in broad terms, refers to the
process of identifying the perpetrator of a crime based on an analysis of crime
statistics and the way it was committed. It is a common investigative tool (see How Stuff
Works article). The most basic kind of profiling is a Be
On the Lookout (BOLO) or All-Points Bulletin (APB), although you
might not have heard it referred to as a profile.
Suspect was last seen in a dark blue Ford
pick-up truck. He was wearing a red T-shirt and black jeans. Suspect is
described as a white male, 5-feet 10-inches tall and thin with receding blond
hair. He has a tattoo of a snake on his left forearm.
With a psychological profile, the investigators
create this sketch in the absence of physical evidence or eyewitness
descriptions, or to supplement such descriptions. They take what they know
about an unknown suspect and his actions and try to generate additional
information. For example, if a serial murderer has been killing the female
employees of a law firm, profilers might find it likely that the killer is a
male former employee or client of the law firm.
With predictive profiling, things get a bit stickier,
and more controversial. Instead of seeking a particular suspect based on
evidence at a specific crime, predictive profiling attempts to guess which
people are likely to commit a crime, or act a certain way, based on
characteristics they hold in common with a group. You’ll often hear of this
mentioned in the news where individuals are harassed or even arrested, because
of certain features they might have in common with criminals -- or worse yet,
because of their skin color.
You’re probably asking yourself…what does any of this have to do with writing?
Fair question. The answer isn’t so much in the writing
itself, but rather how other people react to it…specifically agents, editors,
and even CP’s. I’ve mentioned on my blog several times that the reason I go by
my first two initials (DL) rather than my given name (Don) is because of
feedback I received early in my writing career from readers of a short story I
wrote from a female POV (Itinerary). The
negative critiques were relatively minor (i.e. “A woman wouldn’t say that” – even though I had heard me wife say it
often), but it made me think. Was my writing being judged differently because
of a subconscious assumption rooted deep in the reader’s minds – that an
unproven author will struggle with voice if the POV is something outside of a
perceived expertise?
Let’s take that thought an extend it out a bit. Is it
possible that agents, editors, CP’s, beta readers…any of the above…are making
judgements based upon who you are…compared to who you are writing as? And I’m
only talking about writers who haven’t broken through yet and been published.
Is there a pre-disposition to believe a male writer (or female) can only write successfully
if they use a POV the same as their own?
Think about it…would you hesitate to pick up a book by
a new MALE author who writes about a woman who is struggling against domestic
violence? How about a white writer telling a tale of an African American struggling
to become the first person in his family to go to college, or a Jewish
immigrant who settles in the Midwest?
I know…it depends…right?
Even though I have experienced this myself, my gut
says no, that by in large these are professionals who have learned to put blinders on when it comes to considering the source when reading submitted
material.
Profiling is a useful technique when it comes to
catching the bad guys…but it can be misused and errant assumptions formed. And
you know what they say happens when we ASS U ME.
