Consider the Source
My old high school AP history teacher always used to say this: Consider the source.
That is, when you read a piece of information, an opinion, or an item posted as fact, consider the source. Consider the reliability of the source, the source’s self-interest in the matter. Information often has a vector attached: A direction that the informer wants to lead you in, and a level of intensity and implied significance toward that direction.
Fox News. Digg. Peoples’ OKCupid posts about themselves. Consider the source, people! Consider the source!
I am thinking about this a lot lately because I am constantly framing information inside of fictional stories.
This may be thematic information, or plot/character information that really needs to read. So for me, that attached vector and how big to skew it is really important.
And there are times when I need a reader/audience to suspend their disbelief, but there also times when I need them to specifically consider the source!
My Work in Print
Year Zero
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.com
Cowboy Versus Samurai
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.comFor a complete list of books containing my work, please click here.
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