A few weeks ago my columns about Foer’s book “Eating Animals” sparked debate. While I was encouraged by all of the positive feedback I received, I was bothered by some of the negative feedback. Several readers criticized me as a leftist writer who just wanted to politicize everything. Another reader told me I was merely uneducated and I had no right to talk about issues in the food industry as a writer — apparently only those studying agriculture or animal science have this privilege.

I do not bring these matters up to criticize the readers who gave me negative feedback — it comes with the territory of being an opinion columnist. However, I was disturbed by this. As a writer, I generally seek to be considerate of all perspectives, and I do my best to research issues before I write. Yet after receiving this feedback, I realized I have to be more conscious of my responsibilities as a writer.

This led me to conduct research for a final project exploring what responsibilities writers have in food politics. Luckily, I was able to talk to two experienced writers at Iowa State who engage food politics and/or environmental issues in their writing. I spoke with John Linstrom, a graduate student in the master of fine arts program for creative writing and environment, as well as Melissa Sevigny, who writes about water issues in the Southwest.

I asked these two writers to answer the following questions in hopes of learning how to better educate and give advice to new writers in food politics. Here are the questions and highlights from their answers:

1. How do you approach topics like food politics in your writing? How does this affect your writing/research process?

Sevigny: “In my writing, I try to emphasize the joyful aspects of making sustainable choices — becoming closer to nature/place, really knowing your food and where it comes from. I want my readers to think, ‘That sounds like a great way to live,’ rather than feel guilty over their choices.”

Linstrom: “I never want to avoid political issues in writing because they are human issues. The tricky thing, I think, and the thing that makes food writing potentially so powerful, any kind of writing, is that you can illustrate how those political issues are human issues through narrative.”

2. Writing about food politics can polarize your intended audience. I have found that while most people agree that sustainability and change in the food industry is good, they often become defensive or critical when writing challenges them to change their personal habits. What can writers do to overcome this problem? How do you write to effectively challenge your audience?

Sevigny: “I think of writing as a way to start a conversation. Books themselves, with some exceptions, don’t often drive change. But they give people new words and new ideas to talk about difficult topics, and those conversations are where the real change happens…”

Linstrom emphasized how important it is to establish commonalities between writers and readers because this allows for trust and real dialogue surrounding the issue.

3. If you see writers (yourselves) as vehicles for change, what is your role/responsibility as a writer when writing about food politics?

Sevigny: “As far as responsibility, as a nonfiction writer I have to tell the truth. I want to tell good stories — lively, funny, heartwarming — but first of all they have to be true, both in the details and the big picture.”

Linstrom: “I think the responsibility is not to turn away from anything because it is difficult or hard to understand. … Always go with the things you are passionate about, but don’t shy away from controversy.”

Here, Linstrom told me a very interesting idea. He explained that writers translate the world onto the page, and that page will be read by someone, if not by lots of people. Because of this, writers have power to change people’s worldviews, which allows them to change the world, whether they are aware of it or not. Because of this, writers have to be readers and researchers in order to be responsible.

4. How do you think writing about food politics can change the industry? Is writing the best way to get people’s attention and/or educate them on the subject?

Sevigny: “I don’t think writing is the ‘best’ way to educate people; it’s simply one way among many. My talent happens to be writing so that’s what I do, but there’s a lot of other ways to go about advocating for environmental change, and ultimately we will need all of them.”

Linstrom: “If you are a writer, that’s just your way. … It’s natural to use your talent.”

From these responses I have created a list of things writers in food politics need to remember in order to be responsible writers:

1. Do not shy away from controversial or difficult issues; these issues need to be discussed, and your writing can help facilitate the discussions that will bring about change.

2. Always research an issue before you write. You must be as honest as possible with your readers, and this means knowing all of the facts.

3. Find common ground with your audience. Share your personal story and invite them to share theirs. Respecting each other’s perspectives will allow for open dialogue and allow you to broaden your own worldview.

4. Make political issues human issues. Balance hard facts and logic with personal narrative in order to reach your audience.

5. Do not attack your readers or make them feel guilty. Instead, try to illustrate the value in making sustainable or environmentally friendly practices so they will want to emulate those attitudes and adopt those practices.

These suggestions for writers in food politics extend beyond this limited group. These suggestions are ones we can all take to heart when we argue our own points and engage in debates with others. Respect and trust between writers and readers or any opponents in a debate is vital for creating a constructive conversation where we can learn from one and other.

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Kristen Daily is a junior in English from Orange City, Iowa.