So You Want to Write About American Indians?: A Guide for Writers, Students, and Scholars

by Devon A. Mihesuah

So You Want to Write about American Indians? is the first of its kind—an indispensable guide for anyone interested in writing and publishing a novel, memoir, collection of short stories, history, or ethnography involving the Indigenous peoples of the United States. In clear language illustrated with examples—many from her own experiences—Choctaw scholar and writer Devon Abbott Mihesuah explains the basic steps involved with writing about American Indians.

 

So You Want to Write about American Indians? provides a concise overview of the different types of fiction and nonfiction books written about Natives and the common challenges and pitfalls encountered when writing each type of book. Mihesuah presents a list of ethical guidelines to follow when researching and writing about Natives, including the goals of the writer, stereotypes to avoid, and cultural issues to consider. She also offers helpful tips for developing ideas and researching effectively, submitting articles to journals, drafting effective book proposals, finding inspiration, contacting an editor, polishing a manuscript, preparing a persuasive résumé or curriculum vitae, coping with rejection, and negotiating a book contract.

Genres: Anthropology

164 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jassmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around three years ago, I read one chapter of this book for a university seminar - Stereotypes and Other Mistakes. Through the years I found myself citing it quite often - especially in my Goodreads' reviews 😂 So, I thought that it might be interesting to finally read the whole thing.
My feelings are a bit mixed because the one chapter that I read previously is quite different from the rest of the book and for me, it's still the highlight of the book. That said the rest of the book is very good, full of practical advices for publishing as a Native author (not applies to me, but still interesting) or in an area of Native Studies (still not very applicable to me, but... maybe), but also just to publishing and writing in general. The author is obviously very self-organized and the methods she recommends are sometimes a bit extreme, but in the core they are very good. I don't think that much people transcribe quotes on paper cards and those organize in way they want to write a book, but I do something similar on a much smaller scale. Some of the advices are very old fashioned and I believe things are done a bit differently now, but... overall it was quite informational and inspiring read.
To react to the other reviews. I see how some readers might find Mihesuah's voice annoying. In some aspects this kind of reads as a feminist book (I mean this positively), she is quite angry and therefore is sometimes sarcastic or names things very harshly - but you know... it's still the truth. When she calls US the Oppressor it might be painful to read for some of us, but what should she call it as a Native? Read some of the Native American history she could have chosen much harsher words (recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Native American History). Natives have a very different approach to a lot of things, which is hard for us to realize and respect. And that different mindset shows in parts of this book and we have to respect that - even if we don't understand.
Why does she explicitly criticize several popular non-Native authors? Why she is so harsh on them? Because no one else calls them out and if they do, they are usually not heard. Just take The Education of Little Tree, for such a long time Cherokees are telling us that this book has nothing to do with their culture and that Asa Carter definitely wasn't a Cherokee. And still... this book is read and highly loved by so many, without any disclaimer on the cover... and in lots of edition still called autobiography. Like... who wouldn't be angry. It makes me angry and it doesn't even concern me...
This book wasn't quite what I expected it to be. It contained an interesting mix of topics and advices... what I perceived as inconsistency bothers me a little, but... it's what it says on the tin. And there were lot of interesting information. I would definitely recommend the chapter on Stereotypes to everyone, the rest only if you are interested in publishing.

[Kim Messier · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, you want to write about American Indians? Yeah, so do I, and apparently there are enough other people who do for the University of Nebraska Press to consider this guide a valuable addition to their list. However, Mihesuah, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, delivers an inconsistent offering ranging from extremely helpful information for beginning authors to derision of non-Native writers of Indian subjects.

Granted, persistent stereotypes of American Indians have fed Euro-American rationales for subjugating the natives of this hemisphere for centuries, and they still do. To stem the onslaught of these stereotypes, then, a guide is needed with instructions about how to best proceed with sensitivity and respect. Yet, instead of addressing the issues with sensitivity and respect for her readers, many of whom will be Euro-American, Mihesuah, a prominent Native author, activist, and professor of Indigenous studies at Northern Arizona University, infuses the sections directly related to Indians with anger and bias; evident for example when she refers to the United States as “racist” and “the Oppressor.”

The first chapter is replete with sarcasm and scorn for writers she condemns of stereotyping, racism, or profiteering, which covers practically every popular non-Native author of Native American subjects, from Larry McMurtry to Ian Frazier to Gerald McDermott. While these sentiments may be valid, they may not be relevant, in fact they are down right intimidating in a guide that is intended to be instructive to novice writers of American Indian themes.

The writer’s tone makes it difficult for readers to wade through the book, especially those who are cognizant to, and sympathetic to, the difficulties faced by Indians today. The problem with the book isn’t what Mihesuah has to say; in fact Euro-American writers need to be aware that they are writing about living people and not the “vanished race” of a century ago; and they need to write about American Indians accurately, honestly and with respect, sensitivity and dignity. But the author should have approached her words for “white folks” with the same caution she advises that we use for the indigenous peoples of this continent.

The chapters dealing with finding a topic, organizing research, submitting to publishers and the steps in the publishing process reveal practical, sympathetic, and beneficial tips from a published author of no less than 15 books that feel like they are coming from a mentor or a well-connected friend in the publishing field. Also the section detailing stereotypes to avoid is most informative and helpful.

“This book is not meant to discourage anyone from writing about Natives but rather to encourage sensitive, truthful, inclusive, and honest writing,” Mihesuah states in the preface, yet in Chapter Five she writes, “If you have not lived these experiences, [in a Native American culture] it does not mean you can’t try to write about them. But why would you?”

So, you want to write about American Indians? After reading this guide, even the most respectful writer attempting to relate accurate information on the subject may have second thoughts.

[Cutcha Risling Baldy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing a review of this for my "how to be an awesome writing teacher" class I'm taking... coming soon... an-ti-ci-pation