Fictionalizing your life
You know, I always write fictional characters, and so some creative non-fic on my blog. And I am working on a concept that is much closer to home, about my mom who is dying of Alzheimer’s.
I realized that I have a truer story to tell. I started to go through it last night, something related to my daughter and motherhood.
But where do we draw the line when fictionalizing reality? For example, in the Alzheimer’s story I’ve already hit a bump. My sis is the primary caretaker but I didn’t want to put her in the story because our relationship was nearly destroyed by this. And I don’t want to risk insulting her. Or, will she be insulted if I DON’T put her in the book?
Have to explore what it does mean to do this in reality. At some point, of course, the character takes over and things change but I’m curious about what people think about this.
This is a great subject that really hits home for me, too. I am writing a book about a young woman who gets married in her young 20’s and is coping with a divorce after having an affair. I’m basing the book a lot about my experiences I had as a young newlywed (and other friends who married young), but the only difference is I haven’t had an affair. I think my husband would have a heart attack if he knew how in depth I was writing about the affair and then bits of our relationship.
Can you write another character based on your sister into the story that would shed her in a more positive, or unhurtful, light? Then completely make up a character who is the care taker? Although this isn’t quite the same thing, in the movie Erin Brockovich (starring Julia Roberts), the real Erin Brockovich had a cameo role as a waitress in the diner (towards the beginning of the movie). So she got credit for being in it because it’s her story, even though she wasn’t playing the main character. Not sure why I brought that up, but it seems relevant enough.
I hope other people comment on this-great topic!
Jenny, I’m SO sorry for not answering sooner! Swamped, but what else is new?
That’s kind of funny - in fact, it’s fodder for a whole other book, in my opinion! Wife images fictional affair, husband gets jealous, hmmm…
These are some great ideas to think on. Or perhaps make the whole story a fantasy allegory and avoid these issues altogether! (Can you tell I’m writing a fantasy novel right now?)
Blog isn’t yet popular enough to have more discussion - soon I hope, though…