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Writing Ethics
by Joyce Lavene

Ethical writing is more than just not taking someone else's work. Personal ethics require that we write in such a manner that what we write is a reflection of who and what we are. Believe me, when you sell your first book and you're sitting at that table signing copies for people, you'll be glad you gave it some thought!

Many authors tell me that they sold their first book without considering the consequences of reading aloud to an audience, talking about the details of their work on the radio, or debating their ideas with strangers who buy their books. But all of these events are part of an author's life. Promotion is the name of the game if you want to be published. Many publishers' contracts spell out what they require you to do. There's no sitting in a dark Victorian house secretly writing books for today's author. And the time to consider the consequences of what you write and how you write it is WHILE you write the book!

There are many things to consider:

• Who are you? Do your words give your readers a picture of who you are and what you believe? I'm not saying you should write sidebars about your personal beliefs. But if a reader asks you about a grisly death scene or an animal torture scene from your book, what will you say?

• Are you comfortable with your words? Is what you're saying something you agree with or is it just to spice up the book?

• Do your words reflect your values? If you are a pacifist, are you going to like reading long passages about a murder to your audience? If you truly believe that rape is wrong, do you want your hero to rape your heroine in your book?

Copyright © 2001 Joyce Lavene

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