Comments on: The Intersection of Truth and Fiction

By: Fiction: “more true than real life” • Kristan Hoffman

Fiction: “more true than real life” • Kristan Hoffman — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:07:19 +0000

[...] other day, Barbara Samuel at Writer Unboxed wrote a very eloquent post about “The Intersection of Truth and Fiction.” Every story a writer composes somehow emerges from the writer. But where to draw the line between [...]

By: Barbara Samuel O'Neal

Barbara Samuel O'Neal — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:09:02 +0000

Like many of you, I’ve been prepping for Thanksgiving and this was my first chance to get back and comment. Naomi & Lydia, my partner likes to be in the midst of my daily stories (adventures with Christopher Robin) and I’m sure he doesn’t mind showing up in shadows.

Good insight, Jewel, about running into those points of resistance. And CS, all the better with speculative fiction. Is it Natalie Goldberg who suggests we tap into those powerful moments for timed writings?

Emotion in novels has to come from somewhere.

Kristan, glad you found some use in it. Wonder how I can use the slightly stiff neck I got from cooking and driving so much the past week.
Barbara Samuel O’Neal´s last blog ..Slow Cooked, Chunky, Spicy Apple Butter

By: Kristan

Kristan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:20:38 +0000

So much good stuff here!

- “Every story a writer composes somehow emerges from the writer. But where to draw the line between truth and fiction might be hard to distinguish. I am not a character. The character is herself. Some of my experiences lend verisimilitude, perhaps, but mostly, I’m cobbling together bits of this and pieces of that, gathering anything and everything that might be helpful to create a sense of a whole world for a reader.”

Exactly!

- “The most pleasurable part of writing for me is that weaving of truth and lies to create something that is more true than real life.”

YES.

- “What’s real, and what’s not? Only the writer ever really knows for sure. And even then, I’m not sure we always know.”

LOL. So true…

I’m gonna have to quote this post on my blog (and link back, of course!). Thanks!
Kristan´s last blog ..Rachel Is

By: CS

CS — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:58:58 +0000

I especially like to draw on the rawest, most painful real life experiences I’ve had. I can then touch upon the emotions I felt at the time, the pattern of events and circumstances that led up to the situation, and then use those powerful memories to infuse my writing. Not that I always mirror the situations exactly, or the people involved. But I do like to draw upon real life that way.

Character traits–yes! I’ve moved around a lot and met many different kinds of people. Bringing back a quirk I remember, a description, or an interesting occupation adds more depth to my characters.

Drawing the line between real life and fiction? Yes, I do wonder about it sometimes. I write in both speculative fiction and historical and they are polar opposites when it comes to using reality! Historical fiction (especially setting) has to ring true for its readers to be believable. Speculative fiction usually takes place in made-up worlds and places. But with the latter, I think some touches of the real world help readers. Something familiar to relate to.

Now, you’ve got the wheels in my head thinking deep about this subject!

By: Sarah Allen

Sarah Allen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:41:54 +0000

Great post! I’ve been talking with my mom about this lately, because for her she feels cheated when she reads a made up story. She loves memoirs because they are ‘true’, and I think that can make people feel connected to the character. But well-written fiction can do the same thing, so in this case I think ‘Truth’ is relative. (check out my own creative writing blog)
Sarah Allen´s last blog ..How to use Thanksgiving to your creative writing advantage

By: Jewel/Pink Ink

Jewel/Pink Ink — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:28 +0000

I love breakfasts, too. Meals evoke wonderful childhood memories when my mom would cook. Or visits to friends’ homes where the smell of something yummy would lure me downstairs and be rewarded with good food and good company. :-)

I write a lot of my life experiences into my stories. Even if the details are not autobiographical (especially in my historical and horror fiction), I know I am always trying to capture the underlying truth.

When I feel hesitant to share, then I usually know I am on to something meaningful.
Jewel/Pink Ink´s last blog ..Count Your Blessings

By: Lydia Sharp

Lydia Sharp — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:21:19 +0000

This does come up a lot for me. My husband, especially, has issue with the love interests of my female characters, as if he is in competition with them. Sounds funny on the surface, but he is a writer, too, and thus realizes that there is a part of me in everything I write. What he doesn’t see clearly, though, is which parts come from truth and which parts are purely made-up.

Naomi, my husband is quite the opposite. He enjoys when I use one of his traits in a character, or a direct quote from him. I think, again, this is because he is also a writer. He likes to know that I’m, at least somewhat, thinking about him when I shut out the world for a few moments to write my stories.

Barbara, this is an excellent post! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..Guest Post: Connecting "Point of View" and "Show, Don’t Tell"

By: Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:38:31 +0000

HA – hubby and I were talking about this last night. He was saying that he’s occasionally been uncomfortable with my use of something he’s done or said, in my fiction. I tried – rather unsuccessfully – to point out that it’s NOT really using real life in fiction, but taking inspiration from life and making up imaginary scenarios from it. Sometimes, though, a single phrase or action comes through relatively whole, and for reasons I don’t quite understand, this causes discomfort. Huh.
Naomi´s last blog ..Wondering