I am a sick bastard

[danalwyn]

For those of you who dabble in the art of writing, have you ever had one of those moments while you were researching something for a story where you think "You know, if I weren't doing this for the purposes of fiction, I would be a pretty sick bastard"? In my case, this is usually followed by the thought "Nope, any way I look at it, I'm still a pretty sick bastard".

I had this feeling today when I was trying to figure out how many lashes with a judicial whip it would take to kill a fourteen year old undernourished girl. It disturbed me enough that I put down the story and haven't been able to pick back up where I was.

I absolutely hate it when moral qualms get in the way of writing something.


You can all de-friend me now and run away in horror if you choose and I won't take it personally

Comments

[lookingforwater.livejournal.com]

Hey, accuracy in writing is important.

Unless you're me, and go for shock value. Like having your protagonist string a victim up by their own intestines.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

That would somehow be less disturbing. Everyone knows how that works. It's the fact that I'm cold-bloodedly searching the internet for exact information that bothers me. I like learning things, but it feels weird to feel that same sensation while I'm discovering particulars about the effects of judicial corporal punishment on minors.

I think I'll go back to simply having people impaled. It's easier and I don't have to worry about the execution thereof.