tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post1919409500196777798..comments2023-09-21T12:38:29.150+01:00Comments on The Pocketeers: Write what you knowThe Pocketeershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124101740561917118noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-72096952759562175672011-11-03T10:46:29.859+00:002011-11-03T10:46:29.859+00:00Hi Kate,
Lovely insight as to how the story came ...Hi Kate,<br /><br />Lovely insight as to how the story came to mind.<br /><br />As Sarah mentioned, male midwives are virtually unseen and unheard of in the UK. It's always been frowned upon within the nursing fraternity, and although there are a lot of men who would like to be midwives they too hold back because in effect they would be rendered vulnerable to false allegations of misconduct. I can tell you young medics are wary when it comes to women patients and intimate problems etc., and most make sure a nurse is in attendance at all times. How do I know this, hubby's in the profession. ;) Hence, I would never write a medical romance based in the UK, probably never write anything related to the medical profession. Can you imagine: "It's not like that" - "We this" - "We that." -"Yeah, right!" <br /><br />Oh no, not thank you. I do not want a divorce on my hands. <br /><br />best<br />FFrancine Howarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326542867876257042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-80066020776646713802011-11-03T07:29:55.778+00:002011-11-03T07:29:55.778+00:00What a great blog, Kate. Just goes to show how any...What a great blog, Kate. Just goes to show how any situation can spark an idea for a story. Congratulations on your success!Patricia Keysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14082225991760220713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-71272283736759575892011-11-02T16:52:39.399+00:002011-11-02T16:52:39.399+00:00I should add that I have very much enjoyed writing...I should add that I have very much enjoyed writing women doing roles perceived or restricted to men in my historical romances (e.g. my co-authored novel The Lady Soldier) so perhaps Mr Male Midwife was a chance to subvert our gender expectations the other direction in today's world.Kate Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425834913219662421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-51679273701239181822011-11-02T16:49:28.685+00:002011-11-02T16:49:28.685+00:00Hi all, thanks for all your comments. Sarah - actu...Hi all, thanks for all your comments. Sarah - actually when I was at university I studied some of the gender issues of childbirth - going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and I guess I find it a surprise that it is still an issue in some people's mind now. Men can be nurses (my grandfather and great grandfather were in fact army nurses) and nowadays women can doctors and so I don't see what is different about midwifery. But there are a lot of politics still caught up in midwifery I understand. My story doesn't deal with those - it is a medical drama and a romance and my male midwife is a capable health professional.Kate Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425834913219662421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-31606204282082261162011-11-02T15:04:35.053+00:002011-11-02T15:04:35.053+00:00What a brilliant post and insight into the mind of...What a brilliant post and insight into the mind of a writer at the very moment a story is born. Thanks Kate.Rena Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11520149404274102132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-36537207251807038452011-11-02T13:35:07.451+00:002011-11-02T13:35:07.451+00:00I love the cover of your book Kate. I recognise wh...I love the cover of your book Kate. I recognise what you're saying about getting that spark of an idea and then the excitement of starting to write but I'm very impressed you did that with a five month old baby! You must have a lot of energy.Carol MacLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17893946748914418193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-46142506750835228582011-11-02T11:43:34.134+00:002011-11-02T11:43:34.134+00:00I echo all the other posters' comments about a...I echo all the other posters' comments about an enthusiastic and interesting article. I'm afraid I am a little concerned about your use of the male midwife. I was around in the NHS during the 1980s when an attempt was made to ban men from becoming midwives which failed under equal opportunities legislation, but in reality, there are only one or two practicing male midwives and I think they are restricted mainly to post natal work. There is an entire issue about midwifery and men. A midwife is the only health professional who is allowed to deliver babies in their own right and this responsibility is fiercely guarded by the women concerned. I understand you are writing a romance and the reader will probably not be aware or even interested in the history of midwifery and the medicalisation of childbirth by men, but if you are introducing the idea of a male midwife, it would be good to at least have something of the issues involved aired in the story. I'm really glad you have been able to create a story using your own experience and I hope you future mothering career continues successfully.Sarah Headhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08975928642943693605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-87857777048449342072011-11-02T11:31:21.445+00:002011-11-02T11:31:21.445+00:00Good post Kate. This is exactly how I work too. Se...Good post Kate. This is exactly how I work too. See something, mull round it and gradually discover the characters until they are telling a story. I often keep writing just because I want to know what hapens too!Chrissiehttp://chrissieloveday.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-32416060088445280632011-11-02T11:17:43.107+00:002011-11-02T11:17:43.107+00:00I love this post, Kate! Your enthusiasm shines thr...I love this post, Kate! Your enthusiasm shines through, and I love that you did the research without even realising it! Mind you a handsome midwife is a dangerous thing. A bit like having a gynaecologist who's too good looking... ;-)Quillershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-60354593882868016322011-11-02T11:01:46.529+00:002011-11-02T11:01:46.529+00:00Super post Kate. People always ask where a writer&...Super post Kate. People always ask where a writer's ideas come from and this shows it's a combination of things - being in the right place, thinking out of the box, asking those ever important questions why, what if? Most of all, letting your imagination take you and the readers there.Cara Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972751301677687055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-30722199035429453292011-11-02T10:40:39.281+00:002011-11-02T10:40:39.281+00:00Good post. What's interesting for me is I can ...Good post. What's interesting for me is I can identify with it all; that ember of an idea, the questions, the sudden rush of thoughts ... and love that you made it its own story.<br />Regards<br />Laura.Laura E Jameshttp://lauraejames.co.uknoreply@blogger.com