 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?
18 Comments
3/2/2022 06:48:16 am
Sorry you went through such a painful experience. It sounds like a good idea to write the story and see if you can mask the people you know enough who were part of your experience to try to get it published. It's touchy when you write a story that involves people you know. A few others have posted about this issue this month. 3/2/2022 11:16:56 am
I love that others took this question the same direction I did. It makes me feel more legit when other writers and I think alike. 3/2/2022 01:47:14 pm
That's awful. Kids are so cruel. 3/2/2022 09:12:03 pm
One thing I've heard from memoirists over and over is that you have to be willing to take the backlash, but you also owe it to yourself and your readers to be honest. I think disguising the characters you're concerned about by changing names and possibly even combining multiple people into one character is a good way to do it if you're uncomfortable with it. There's also the legalities, so that's good to check into. 3/3/2022 10:23:38 am
My current book series is set in a fictional town that bears a lot of similarities to my own home town. The characters are original, though a few elements here and there are based on real people I know. It wasn't until well after the first book came out that someone pointed out to me that one of the characters actually has the exact same name as someone I went to school with. COMPLETELY an accident, but I hope he never comes looking for me... 3/3/2022 01:48:54 pm
Sometimes I picture people I know playing my characters. Not that their personalities line up, just that I cast them as actors. I hope I never slip and use the actor name instead of the character name!
Helen Mathey-Horn
3/3/2022 12:26:56 pm
This makes me think of the song "Killing me Softly" with his words...etc. So 'Publish and be damned!' I think writing about it has to be cathartic for you and will those people be likely to read what you've written? If they do, consider they had to buy the book to read it? That would be some revenge, lol. 3/4/2022 08:27:34 pm
Write your truth, lady! It's okay. You're not the first IWSGer who's expressed these thoughts. What I'd said to the other writer is that you can use a pseudonym.
Kim Elliott
3/5/2022 08:22:32 am
Yay for sci-fi romance!! We need more love in this world. 3/6/2022 08:45:39 am
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've never worried about offending people. I know some people will be offended no matter what I write. My problem is dealing with double standards. I don't always feel free to express myself the way other writers who don't look like me do because some people make a habbit of trying to negate anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, even when it's not about them. Thanks for sharing your insecurity. I'm glad you're going to keep writing hard topics whether you share them or not.
Kim Elliott
3/6/2022 04:59:16 pm
Yes, everything will be offensive to someone out there. Gotta keep writing anyway! 3/14/2022 02:18:13 pm
I'm sorry you went through that. The effects of childhood bullying can last a lifetime, and I certainly sympathise. I wouldn't worry about offending anyone. Instead, I think your story would be greatly helpful to a lot of young people and make them feel they're not alone, so it's worth considering publication, I say. 3/15/2022 07:21:42 am
Maybe so. Hoping I can finish writing it after my current project. Leave a Reply. |
Falling ForeverNothing fancy, just my thoughts on the writing journey, creativity, and life in general. CategoriesFalling for the VillainLike superheroes? Love romance? This novel is for you!
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