Recognising The Impact of Your Authorial Voice

As readers, we find comfort in the stories we read, and project ourselves onto the characters for immersion. As writers, we find inspiration from the authors’ storytelling, and take note of the different techniques we can apply to our own writing. What do we do then, when we find out the authors we read and look up to turn out to be people with beliefs and opinions that we do not condone, and wish to no longer support?

Why “The Death of the Author” is Easier Said than Done

I’m sure that everyone has heard of JK Rowling’s antics in recent years — most notably of her transphobic comments, in which she pushes for feminism that rejects the inclusion of trans women. Of course, this wasn’t the first time such controversies surrounded her, but this particular incident appeared to have been the final straw for a huge part of her reader fanbase. Many decided to declare “permanent death” on the author, and expressed their conflicted feelings over continuing to consume and enjoy content of their beloved Harry Potter series, fearing that it would translate to continued support of the author.

“The Death of the Author” notion first came from the French literary critic Roland Barthes, who argued that authorial intent and voice should not be included in the interpretation of a text, and that a text should stand alone and separate from its author. Ideally, it would be so much easier for us to consume content if we completely ignore the authors’ personal views, especially those of the problematic kinds. But in reality, this isn’t something that can really be achieved.

Every single part of a written work holds a little bit of the author’s soul within it down to the smallest details — this is something that I’ve always believed in throughout my years of reading and writing, but since then I’ve realised how this truth actually goes both ways. And with the vast connection reach we get from social media, an author’s whole identity is easily accessible by anyone in this world with a quick Google search. It eventually becomes inevitable that readers will come to assess the authorial voice present within a written work directly with the face behind its creation.

Rowling’s case makes a very good example of how difficult it is to truly separate an author from their creations. Indeed, for a franchise series as hugely successful and widely spread as Harry Potter, it is the reader fanbase who is largely responsible for its continued relevance up until today, by creating and consuming various kinds of fan content. It might seem that in this case, it wouldn’t be difficult for the readers to just claim “death to the author” and carry on with what they’ve been doing all the same. But at the end of the day, all the royalty and rights over the Harry Potter series still belong to Rowling as the rightful author. It is through her perspective that the books were written, and it is her voice that remains active to this day. We can claim “death” to the author as much as we want, but their traces can never truly be erased from their works.

Now what can we, as writers, take from this whole issue?

Be Aware of Your Writing Choices

The authorial voice is strong, and for us writers this can be both a good and a bad thing. The fear of vulnerability has always scared me from putting my writings out anywhere, and this issue certainly added more concern onto it. Endless worrying that even after trying my best with research, I might unintentionally write harmful or inaccurate portrayals of sensitive themes, as certain forms of bigotry might be ingrained within me from years of social conditioning. Should I make any blunders, they may forever be attached to my name and tarnish my image as a writer. But more than that, my writing might end up being a contributor towards harmful mindsets, instead of the positive influence that I wanted it to be.

I do believe that authors have the right to write the stories they wish to tell; no matter how unoriginal and cliché, or self-indulgent and pointless they may be. Writing doesn’t always need to have a larger purpose other than for good fun and personal fulfillment. But whether we are writing our first novel, short stories, or even fanfiction, it’s good for us to reconsider the intentions behind our works, and become aware of the responsibility we hold over the decisions we’ve made for our stories. The kinds of narratives we tell, the kinds of characters we portray, the kinds of themes we play with — they may be a reflection of our voice, of our interests and worldviews.

Thus, we need to reassess the reasons behind our writing choices. Ask ourselves; are the characters we write based on any racist stereotypes? Is our storyline perpetuating any harmful tropes? Are we insistent in including certain scenes for the sake of “realism”, at the expense of someone else’s truth? If so, why? What are we trying to achieve with those choices, and are there not better alternatives? Getting a sensitivity reader is particularly useful when approaching topics and aspects of human life that we aren’t familiar with; whether they be race, religion, gender, sexuality, social class, disability, mental health, and many others. No single experience is truly the same, which is why research is essential, and listening to marginalised voices is vital; because in the end, harmful representation may end up more damaging than no representation at all.

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t ever write problematic and sensitive themes — in fact, shedding light on taboo issues, or giving marginalised voices a platform to speak up are very much encouraged, especially if we are writing from a position of privilege. But we need to be aware of how we approach these subjects, and our authorial intent in bringing them to light. The line we tread on may be a fine one, but if we write with everyone’s best interests in mind, then there should be no worries of any selfish intentions overriding it. Recognise the power in our authorial voice, and how we can make use of it for a good cause.

At the same time, we should know that there is no way to control how our writings are perceived by readers, and that there is just so much more that we don’t know about this world. Hence why, it is important that we understand and accept that we are not perfect, and that we are bound to make mistakes along the journey. What matters is that we learn from them, and do better in the future. Ultimately, knowing that even the smallest contribution I’ve made with my writing would be a positive one, is more than enough for me to find my journey as a writer worthwhile.

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