Relating Real-World Disasters to Writing: On Disaster-Fic

Ah... A good rant. Sometimes you just need those.

I'm sure everyone has heard of the Japanese earthquake recently; 8.8 on the Richter scale, etc. And now, unfortunately, I am seeing the consequences.

No, I have not grown a third arm from radiation exposure (though, to be frank, if it was a working arm I might welcome such a change) nor have I felt any rumbling and shaking (Vermont is relatively safe, though certainly not fault-free), but as an online editor for fellow internet-posting writers, I too have felt the strain.

Why? People feel compelled now, of all times, to write disaster-fic.

Disaster-fic? You ask, blinking in a surprised manner. Surely not, Victory -- disaster-fic is much too soon. Of course, your assumed statements take into account that you know what disaster-fic is, so if you don't, let it be clear that I assume you possess the intelligence to figure it out. Assume makes an ass out of you and me, but humour me.

But, yes, it is true -- within a week of that tragic disaster, I have received at least two projects that deal with that same earthquake. To be honest, I felt a mixture of depression, annoyance, and respect -- one of the pieces was at least eight thousand words, which, while not a staggering sum, is certainly impressive given the time frame.

Be that as it may, am I the only one who cries, 'Too soon!'? With bodies washing up on the shores and nuclear plants on the brink of meltdown (hm, perhaps that is an exaggeration), I cannot but feel as if the tragedy of Japan is being treated too lightly.

So, in respect to that, Victory's first law of disaster-fic:
Wait at least a month! If nothing else, wait out of respect to the people who have lived through the disaster you are writing about.

Victory's second law:
Research is key! In this example, don't set your story in Izumo City if you want your characters to be in thick of it. Know your locale, know your facts, and know your psyche. If their lives are in danger, put them in survival mode.

Victory's third law:
Tastefulness is a must. Don't overdo it if it doesn't need over-doing. Don't drape a son in his mother's dead body unless that is a plot point. Honestly, disaster-fic can be gruesome and horrifying, but it doesn't need to be theatrical.

And, finally, Victory's fourth law:
Be precise. Don't say that the beaches are covered in debris or dead bodies unless they would be.

Disaster-fic is difficult to write, simply because fiction is contending with the real thing -- the survivors. And, above all else, don't be condescending if someone tells you that's not how it happened. For Goddess' sake,I should think a survivor would know better than a girl safely ensconced in Wisconsin.

Rant over, for the moment.

Emphasis on 'for the moment'.