Writing Truth: Lessons from Morocco
Last year I had the opportunity to visit Morocco, a country I've had an inexplicable yearning to see for as long as I can remember. It didn't disappoint. Traveling from Casablanca to the capital city of Rabat, experiencing the Old Medina, the kasbahs, the cuisine and the sheer beauty of the place, was a sensory overload, but in a good way. I came away full. But there was one thing that was disappointing (although not surprising). Just as I've witnessed in Italy and so many other countries, there was a certain element of tourists that simply couldn't find it in themselves to show any respect for the host country and its culture. Because, of course. As I continue work on my first novel, those experiences come to mind. In developing characters, whether endearing or insufferable, of course I aim for authenticity. But, I also don't want to disrespect or offend readers (especially those who, if my characters are indeed authentic, may see their own insufferable ways in the...