writing about human catastrophes

- would that be exploting the grief of other people? I read a statement saying as much in response to a song about Fukushima. I've written (and even recorded, but not yet published) a song inspired by the Fukushima desaster myself, it's called "doomsday morn". Actually you wouldn't be able to tell what exactly it is about except maybe the end of the world - it's not exactly too specific.

At the moment I'm about to write about the Oslo bombing and shooting spree with 92 victims. Would that be expoiting the sorrow of the Norwegians? Could you possibly be exploting when you don't make any money with your craft? I don't think so. Let's just call it 'inspiration'. You read about a disaster or watch the news, you have your feelings and thoughts about it, and - being a writer - eventually you write about it. That's it. My next lyrical project will be about the Oslo catastrophe.

I've written about a similar event a while ago. The song (that I actually also recorded) is called our memories will never go (about a shooting spree in my vicinity).