I recently read a work of medical fiction by a New York Times Best Selling Author. I am a specialist in psychiatry. This book involved a character with a major psychiatric issue. The Best Selling Author is a physician but not a psychiatrist.
In my opinion the technica and l clinical aspects of the psychiatric problem were way off and not accurate. I looked at the credits and acknowledgements in the book and I saw a mental health person or two, -no physicians.
Now with all that said, does anyone really care? If the general public would not notice, does it really matter? What if you are in the general ballpark of accuracy, it is just fiction right. No one says the technical clinical aspects have to be accurate. Certainly for a NYT Bestseller, it does not matter, if only a specialist in the field would notice.
It bothered me a bit because I think the fiction works with inaccuracies in mental health might not do much to dispel myths and ignorance around mental health issues. Of course with that said , these are works of fiction and the writer has no ethical, moral, or literary obligation to get technical aspects correct, even when the fiction is a real life story and not fantasy or sci-fi or supernatural.
Basically in fiction the writer can do what he or she wants. If it sells, does that mean its good? What do you think?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Medical Story Writing: Character or Setting ?
Do you pick your setting first. The action packed stereotypical Emergency room with all the fast- paced adrenalin pumping action. Or the Operating room, with lots of life and death action and drama.
Do you build your characters around that setting?
Do you have an idea in mind for the character first? That misunderstood, misinterpreted and determined Doctor or Nurse or God forbid Hospital Administrator. Do you develop that character through dialogue? Too much or not enough Dialogue? Too much or too little descriptive setting?
Do you follow all the "RULES" for general fiction writing.
Does every medical professional have a novel or two or three in them? Do they ever get to share, or like a war veteran do they repress, suppress and suck it up all day and go on to the next day?
Do you build your characters around that setting?
Do you have an idea in mind for the character first? That misunderstood, misinterpreted and determined Doctor or Nurse or God forbid Hospital Administrator. Do you develop that character through dialogue? Too much or not enough Dialogue? Too much or too little descriptive setting?
Do you follow all the "RULES" for general fiction writing.
Does every medical professional have a novel or two or three in them? Do they ever get to share, or like a war veteran do they repress, suppress and suck it up all day and go on to the next day?
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