Blue Collar, Less-Educated, Rough Around the Edges: The Other Marginalized Writers

By Mashaw McGuinnis

An acquaintance of mine texted after reading some of my novel-in-progress. “Don’t try so hard with stereotypical language and trailer park folks… I don’t buy it.” I wanted to disappear into the furniture, but instead I texted back a bumbling explanation that I wasn’t trying too hard, that the people in my stories are the people that I know, and I know them well.

I always dread sharing my work because my middle-class friends never believe me when I say my characters, ...