Truth, Lies & Other Inconveniences
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The Ethics of Writing by Elected Officials
Every day, America’s elected federal and state officials write to American citizens. They write...
Nonfiction
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The Ethics of Writing About Family
Almost always, writing memoir is not just about the writer’s personal story; often it is also...
Journalism
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The Ethics of Interviewing Subjects in Nonfiction Writing
Say you’re a nonfiction writer researching sources for a book. You learn of a new source willing...
Novels
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Are there ethical constraints in writing novels about dystopian societies?
What are the ethics of writing novels about dystopian societies? Writing novels set in the future...
Historical Fiction
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How Historical Does a Historical Novel Have to Be?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? There are no good answers...
Memoir
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The Ethics of Writing About Family
Almost always, writing memoir is not just about the writer’s personal story; often it is also...
Humor & Poetry
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Is it even possible to write an ethical last will and testament?
I was a lawyer long before I was an author. The ethical code for lawyers is rigid and unforgiving....
Writing
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The Ethics of Writing the Word Racist
Want to try high-risk writing? As in, the high risk of offending, being sued, losing a job, or...
Social Media
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Is Tweeting Ethical?
“I very much doubt if anyone of us has the faintest idea of what is meant by the reality of...
Read My Books
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The Ethics of Writing the Word Racist
Want to try high-risk writing? As in, the high risk of offending, being sued, losing a job, or...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Writing Legal Jargon
Every profession has its jargon. My people (lawyers) wallow in it. Our moniker could be Jargon is...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Writing Words
Yes, there are ethical and unethical “words.” Single words in a single sentence, or just as a...
Read MoreIs Writing With Tongue In Cheek Ethical?
Don’t laugh. There is such a thing as “tongue in cheek.” It’s so real, they gave it a Wikipedia...
Read MoreAre There Any Ethical or Moral Norms in Writing Erotica?
An article written thirteen years ago in Psychology Today prompted this blog.[1] The title was...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Writing Tragedy
What are the ethics of writing tragedy? Tragedy comes under two rubrics—truth and fiction. Real...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Editing: Part 1
What, there are ethics of editing? Who says there are? Is there an ethics of everything? Yes,...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Writing About Family
Almost always, writing memoir is not just about the writer’s personal story; often it is also...
Read MoreWhat are the ethics of writing letters?
Whoever heard of ethical letter-writing? What are the ethics of writing letters, and why would...
Read MoreThe Ethics of Writing Satire
Is there an empathy gap? Do satirists know about it? Is satire darkly funny? What if the writer...
Read MoreWhat Are the Ethics of Writing History?
History is nonfiction: true, correct, accurate, authentic, as in it really happened, right? So,...
Read MoreAre Morality Clauses Ethical?
Say you’re a writer and your publisher asks you to sign a “morality clause” as part of your...
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About Gary L. Stuart
I am an author and a part-time lawyer with a focus on ethics and professional discipline. I teach creative writing and ethics to law students at Arizona State University. Read my bio.
MY BOOKS
My latest novel is Let’s Disappear, a mystery. Don’t tell Vivian she’s not who she says she is! Take a look.
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