The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 176

When I was freelancing, I carried Model Release forms with me if I was interviewing, say a store owner or someone who has people milling about. I was taught that it's the ethical thing to do and will help to avoid lawsuits if I obtain strangers' permission to photograph them, especially if those photos are going to be published, whether publicly or privately.

I don't think I'd be too pleased if I one day found my photo online and had no idea I was being photographed while going about my business. To me, that's an invasion of privacy.

Thanks for including the punctuation lesson this week. I wonder sometimes if that is even taught in school any more. Many seem to ignore those rules.

Good Mailbag. I've noticed you use only your own photos. That would be my preference but I usually have none to go with my topics. Now I use almost exclusively Pixabay. They rarely disappoint me.

Hey, it was a pleasant surprise to see my comment here. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotations.

"An educated mind has the capability of entertaining an idea without accepting it."

I know you don't agree with me, but I think there is a good example of respecting an opinion -- entertaining it, without accepting it.

The first person, third person question made me think of the Twilight Saga. I loved all the four books. In the last one, the writer marks the sections with the character who lends us his/her perspective for that section. In fact, Ms Meyers had begun rewriting the first book, just from a differnet perspective. She never finished it, but it was deliriously enchanting.

A differnet perspective adds so much, extends so much, that indeed choosing one of the available ones is a difficult task, and should be done with a lot of care.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, a great mailbag. And I have a suggestion for you. But, this one is a long comment already, I'll come back with it in either the next installment, or one of the older ones I've started digging.

I learned a lot from your insight here. I sometimes use photos from shutterstock but try to use mine in most hubs.

I just want you to know reading your comments on your hubs is just like reading your hub. The people that post ask such good questions by the time I read them all I have all my prayers answered. At least for now. I wonder if I could still take pictures of people and photo shop different heads on their bodies. Who would care then ? I am in the grey area. Thanks so much. Have a splendid afternoon.

Nice mailbag. Enjoyed your great answers as well as the jolly mood with that ending song quoted from Lionel Ritchie.

Eric's question refreshing the knowledge on usage of colon and semicolon and Linda's question about first person and third person usage served the purpose of sharpening our knowledge. Thanks to both of them also for asking them again.

I respect Anusha's thoughts and advice on usage of photos.

Thank you for your reply. I guess I will use my own photos and see how it goes from there. Slowly but surely I am gathering my poems together and making my choices.

I like your idea of writers having different options like taking different routes. My problem is I get lost in the exploration and not reach the finish line. I know I just need to have more discipline as you do. Another great instalment.

Glad I caught this one Bill. I so agree with being glad there are different ways to reach the same point. It would be so boring if not...like robots.

I hate writing in first person. I trip over the I's! You do it well though so back to that different strokes, huh?

A thought provoking installment in light of recent conversations about using photos taken of people in public spaces. I may go in and change some of the ones I've posted even though I took the pictures. Hmm.

And I was glad to read your thoughts on mixing up 1st and 3rd person in the same book. That is reassuring.

Wow, I just noticed that the State Farm advertisement on the page was written in Chinese or Japanese.

Great mailbag and I loved your introductory paragraph! What a wonderful way to explain that important message!

The question regarding using photos—I try to use my own photos as much as possible.

The questions and answers are very useful as always.

Thanks for sharing!

True about the limits of writing a novel in the first person. I wrote such a novel a few years ago, and I'm going to rewrite it one of these years. The narrator/main character investigates a cold-case murder. Whenever he learns of a long-ago incident at which he was not present, I have him imagine what happened. His imagination gives scenes vivid, dramatic immediacy.

I've been reading LOVE MEDICINE by Louise Erdrich and learning a lot about creating characters. The chapters jump about in time: 1981, 1934, 1948, 1957, etc. Sometimes the story is told in 1st person, sometimes in 3rd person. Multiple characters have turns being the first person narrator, and at different chapters the same narrator might be a child, young adult, middle-aged adult, or old adult -- not necessarily in that order. So we see characters as they see themselves and as others see them at different times. It all works beautifully and powerfully. If I ever read LOVE MEDICINE again, I'll create family trees of the families of the characters to remind me who is who. The novel is about life on an Indian reservation in North Dakota.

Hi Bill. Another great week for the mailbag. The question about photos is of particular interest. When I use photos with people in them I do wonder if I should or should not? I try to strictly use my own photos in articles and only with people I know and won’t mind. But, one of the things I like to do when traveling is to photograph locals going about their business. I try not to use these in articles but does that really matter to them? Most of the time they don’t even know I took their picture. Am I invading their privacy? Will have to think about this. Anyway, have a great week.

This mailbag has become a regular hangout spot. It's one of the best happenings on HubPages! Thanks, Bill.

Happy Monday Bill! It's crazy busy at my work place, so finally getting a chance to sneak in and read my mailbag. Makes me remember why Monday's aren't COMPLETELY horrible... LOL

Have a great and productive rest of the week!

Another great mailbag. I learn something new every time. Thanks once again.

The question about 1st and 3rd person got me thinking. Present or past tense. Are they mutually exclusive or can you mix them?

For example, can you use present tense to write about what the character is doing now, but change to past tense to explain a past event in the characters life.

I'm not sure I explained that well but I suppose we can discuss that in the next mailbag, perhaps.

I'm singing, Billy.....

Lol. Well you got there all right with your poetry, using Lionel's touch. Ha ha.

Another great mailbag. This photo thing is a very sensitive subject. Good to see that you left it at that. Peace Bro.

Hello Bill, I veered off Highway 15, and onto Parkway Calabasas, now I don't know where I am, but there are palm trees.

Great mailbag.

Great mailbag as always Bil. Very encouraging. I tend to write in 3rd person 95% of the time, the other 5% is for 1st person.

I was very interested in Anusha’s perspective. I took photos of a guy on a beach with so much back hair he looked like Sasquatch. I thought I was being clandestine (even though there were very few people on the beach) but then he waved. My daughter was mortified but I laughed real hard and waved back.

I too don't use semicolons although, after a recent HP edit, my article was peppered with them.

I find writing a profile in 3rd person odd but if that's what they want, that's what they'll get.

You're right of course about there being different ways to reach a goal, I seem to have taken the scenic route. LOL

Have a wonderful week.

Bill, don't you love the different routes. Doesn't that constitute "voice"? Glad you made it on time.

I would say that if in doubt as to whether one should get a release from a photo taken in a public place, which is not required by federal law, blur the person's face or head like the big boys on TV do. When I was taking my training, we didn't have all this local, state, and federal government control on copyrights and privacy. I'm not sure they are a good thing. I belong to an organization which has the policy that you must get a release from everyone in the photo before it can be used even in the organization's own publications. That's getting ticky (but cautious).

Have a good week my friend. Stay warm.

I liked you little narrative about ways of getting. I hope I can arrive someday:-) Until then I'll just keep trudging along and telling myself the joy is in the journey.

Always a pleasure to read the Mailbag my friend.

All Night Long is one of my all-time favourites, along with Dancing on the Ceiling! Loved the story at the beginning too.

Good mailbag. 1st/3rd person is a difficult one and I'm more comfortable with 3rd but I think it can get more complicated, so.... I don't know!

The photography thing: here in Britain it's illegal to take photos of someone on their own property without permission and illegal to enter a property to take photos without permission. It can also be seen as harassment. However, it's difficult to prove. I agree that it's a moral issue above all.

We have a neighbour doing just that at the moment and we're ignoring him as he's a complete ********. Confrontation makes it worse. Not talking makes it much easier!

Question: What is it within us that tells us we have written a good piece? I know when something's not quite right but I have a deeper feeling of something close to excitement when I feel I've produced a good'un. Why is that? Where does it come from? Do you experience that?

Monday has been melodious and old-friend visiting mellow today. Hope yours is just as good, bill.

Ann

You are the best buddy.

Oh dear, I use the semicolon a LOT. Wondering if my writing makes you roll your eyes. Perhaps I need a time out in the corner too.

As for 2nd person, that would be when giving instructions, right?

Your opening story is great, Bill. It makes your point very clearly. Anusha's comment about photo use is excellent, too.

Another wonderful Mailbag! I, too, almost never use the semi-colon. I can't remember why, but I think I learned that in school. This may seem a stupid question, but is there a 2nd person style of writing. Just wondering why they go from 1st to 3rd, lol.

Oh, those pesky colons, semicolons, and colonoscopies can be a pain in the butt. Thank you for the refresher course. We all need our cages rattled every now and then.

Bill, thank you for including my question. I'm going to give 1st person a try and see how it works. If I introduce each chapter with the name of the person who is giving us their observations, can I achieve the best of both worlds?

Eric is dreadful--his comment about semi-colonoscopies made me almost spurt my coffee.

BTW, I think my bio might be in the 3rd person. I'd best correct that--I'm not quite ready for an obituary.

Stupid auto-correct. How does it change something after I verify it is correct? It's like it changes itself after I move on further in my sentence. Grrrrrr. If I ever figure out how to turn that thing off, I'll be one happy woman. What I tried to say had nothing to do with Kansas, of course! I hope you know I was saying thanks for the laugh. LOL

When it comes to using pictures of people it can get a little tricky and I don't need to be in a sticky situation. I have enough to deal with without adding to my plate. So I turn to pictures of animals and nature. I don't think the chickens next door mind being celebrities and the flowers and trees love the attention. Life is short and we all have to wring out the good from the worst of all days. It is a challenge but when we succeed what a pleasure it is. Thank you for sharing and caring. I heard someone say Monday fun day I am trying to follow that idea but someone it is going in the opposite direction. I think I need a new compass. Have a great day.

As someone who has taken a lot of photographs over the years, I must say that it does seem prudent to get a photo release or at least ask for permission before publishing an image of a person. Have a great week Billy.

Happy Monday!

Re: Public Photos. Great insight from Anusha! The laws regarding privacy and such are in a constant state of flux, largely due to social media and the availability of technology. Always check before you shoot for what applies in your area and for how you plan to use the pics!

Have a great week ahead!

Outstanding.

I think on the picture issue we know the answer if we watch TV or movies. The first tier is not letting the gov. intrude on our privacy, citizens have a lessor standard. Now go to traffic/security/street videos or closed circuit. There simply is no legal restriction on recording images in/of public places. Florida does not restrict really. The child walks into a bank or takes a flight, they are recorded via camera.

As the above writer notes. Intent is paramount. But not the intent to take the picture but the intent on how to use it. Much more on things like cropping.

Bill I messed up, my question was really about colonoscopies and semi colonoscopies. LoL

Hey now HP really likes us to have Bio's tailored for specific articles to go all niche sight like LetterPile. There I got to looking into 1st person and 3rd person. What the heck is that 3rd person deal all about when describing oneself? I also had that problem for a Bio for a charity I serve. What the heck? And I supposed to write "Eric is a...."

Sorry for my length.

Hiya Bill, great advice as always. On the subject of using photos from Images, I am using loads at the moment for a book I am writing. Instead of scrolling down through all the wiki commons, pixabay etc, I just go to the Images, tools, then Usage rights, click on the 'Labeled for Reuse' and of I go! brings up all the goodies in one go! lol!

Bill, you might want to read the headline capsule of your first question. Or maybe it was on purpose. It made me laugh either way, so that KS. Needed that laugh. Good morning to you.