IWSG Blog Post - Conflicted

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. This group is all about connecting!

March 2 question - Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?

I have a WIP this question applies to. It's a short story that’s mainly fiction but with autobiographical elements. The story explores a difficult experience from my teen years. I suspect anyone who was ever a teenage girl has a similar story. Without getting into specifics, something happened to show me unequivocally what everyone in my social circle thought of me. I was pathetic to them. That lesson stayed with me even when I had the chance to reinvent myself in later years. I couldn’t seem to move past the bedrock impression that I was somehow less than everyone around me. I became pathetic to myself.

​I've never written anything remotely true, so it's a bit scary. What if people realize which characters were inspired by them? What if someone thinks a character was inspired by them when it really wasn't? Will people think I’m whining about something I should’ve gotten over years ago? And most important: Is it worth exposing this bad (and humiliating) memory to the world?

The answer is: no, it's probably not worth it. 
​
But I'm going to keep writing it. I'm not conflicted about writing the story. I'm conflicted about letting people see it. So, I'll write, edit, and see how it looks. If I can mask the truth enough that no one will recognize it, I'll put my story out there. If it's good enough, I might even submit to a competition or two. I think it contains some themes others might relate to.

What about you? Have you ever been conflicted about writing something? Have you ever written anything true(ish) and worried it would offend people?