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1. Think on These Things First
- University of Nebraska Press
- Chapter
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BOB — University of Nebraska Press / Page 1 / / So You Want to Write about American Indians? / Devon Abbott Mihesuah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 [First Page] [1], (1) Lines: 0 to 43 ——— -0.29977pt PgVar ——— Normal Page PgEnds: TEX [1], (1) chapter one Think on These Things First Writers must reflect on why they are using Native images and characters in their nonfiction and fiction stories. Is it to make money or to help with Natives’ current situations? Out of respect and hopefully concern, Natives hope it’s the latter. There is always a market for original, well-written, thoroughly researched nonfiction and fiction. Many books written about Natives need revision so that tribes’ viewpoints and voices are included. Desperately needed are problem-solving books and essays. Teachers at all grade levels need intelligent, complete works that can assist them in properly educating their students about the diversity of Native America and the contributions Natives have made to this country and to the world. Also needed are imaginative, inspiring, nonstereotypical fiction works about Natives. Both nonfiction and fiction can properly educate non-Indians about Native history and culture and can inspire, assist, and educate Indians themselves. AreYouWriting for Love or Money? Before you get started on your project, ask yourself why you want to write about American Indians. Think carefully about these questions: ● Are you a student who must complete your thesis or dissertation in order to graduate? ● Are you a fiction writer who has ideas for a fiction novel or short stories? ● Are you a Native writer with a yearning to express yourself? ● Are you a professor who wants to make a name for yourself in your field of study? ● Are you a professor who must write in order to keep your job? ● Do you have visions of making money? 1 BOB — University of Nebraska Press / Page 2 / / So You Want to Write about American Indians? / Devon Abbott Mihesuah think of these things first 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 [2], (2) Lines: 43 to 59 ——— 12.80003pt PgVar ——— Normal Page * PgEnds: Eject [2], (2) ● Do you write for self-satisfaction? ● Are you someone who sees the myriad problems tribes face and would like to offer solutions through your writings? There are dozens of examples of books that were written for all of the above reasons. Some are unique and inspiring,others are stereotypical, harmful to tribes, and of no use to anyone but the author. If you’re writing about Natives to make money, you may want to reconsider. Unless you have found what it is that mainstream America wants to read about American Indians – such as non-Native mystery writer Tony Hillerman or Native writers Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie – or you are a popular New Age writer (these writers often make their money unscrupulously by claiming to be“Indian shamans”), you probably won’t make much monetary profit from your work. You may wonder how it is that some writers who don’t write any better than dozens of other“nonfamous”Native writers can make so much money and get their names in People magazine and appear on npr. The answer is they make a tidy profit because they have found a dynamite agent and publicist, are willing to promote themselves, and write what America wants to read. Some of us who write scholarly works make a modest amount through royalties,but it is part of our jobs to write; we are paid primarily for our work as professors. Our promotion and tenure decisions are based in part on our publications. The adage“publish or perish”is very true in many instances and scholars must learn to write even if writing is not their primary career interest. Other nonscholarly writers might find success with a book or two, but most don’t make enough money to quit their job. Sure Ways to Make Money Some people are under the impression that using Indian images and characters in their work will make it more attractive to readers; consider the popularity of Dances withWolves and the Karl May and Hillerman...