“I knew it was in the title, but I never figured this book was actually about torsos. “
-My Social Media for Authors instructor
This book is actually about torsos.
In some ways it’s easier to write about what you don’t know.
The problem is, when you write about what you don’t know, what you write can be stupid. And, when you’re writing about people, it can be hurtful.
I set out to learn more about people who are torsos. There are a few prominent personalities who were born that way.
- Christian Arndt is an IT student.
- Nick Vujicic is an inspirational speaker.
- Hirotada Ototake is a sports reporter.
My ultimate goal was to procure a sensitivity read of my novel in draft, so I could correct everything I got wrong, everything I got even more wrong, and get on the right track. But everybody I learned about who was missing all their limbs was so successful, they didn’t need a job in editing. I’m going to ask them anyway, of course, after I improve the quality. I don’t want to embarrass myself. They’re all authors too.
Other individuals missing limbs due to Tetra-amelia syndrome fare less well, especially those born in developing countries. Rahma Haruna lived in a plastic bowl until she died at 19.
In Corporate Torsos Need Not Apply, the affected characters aren’t born torsos though. They become them.
So then I got into researching quadruple amputees, and Isabelle Weall saved me by explaining how she does things in this YouTube video. I had guessed and imagined some of it for the “making a cup of tea” scene, a poor substitute for hearing and seeing it first-hand. This way when I do find my sensitivity readers, I won’t embarrass myself. Or, I will, but not with that.
