Many people dream of being famous. They dream of being put down permanently to paper and becoming immortal for future readers to behold. This means that many people get excited when speaking with a writer, producer, or creator.
When I first came out as a creative, there was a question that I got a lot. I still remember the nasally voice of the first girl who had asked. A straight-haired beauty that I despised, but desperately wanted to fit in with “Oh my god, will you write a book about me?”
Yes. The short answer is yes.
As a writer, almost all of my work is rooted in my experiences. Write what you know: something every writer has heard a million times. However, even the truest of memoir pieces are slightly fictionalized.
No, I will not write your exact person into a story. I won’t use your name. You will not find a character with your precise face and talents. However, I will draw from your character and the interactions you’ve had with me.
You may read a story written by a friend and recognize a party scene from last year’s Christmas Extravaganza. Or, there may be a character who has the habit of saying things that sound utterly familiar. What you won’t find is a character that mirrors yourself, sporting the same name and eyes.
When reading my stories you could find a conversation that we had or a character with your specific mannerisms. Our experiences as friends, coworkers, family, are all fair game.
As a writer, it is my job to open myself up and expose my guts to the world. By doing this our shared experiences may come to light. And, yes, I realize that this will make some people very upset with me.
The people that are angered will be the ones pictured in a less positive light. Writers are always condemning others, but they are also condemning themselves. A good writer will not hide the bad experiences from their readers, and they shouldn’t. Sometimes this requires including other people who were present for the inspiration to the story, no matter how brutal.
But fret not, you will be fictionalized, if only a little bit. If you recognize yourself, good or ugly, you are likely the only one that can.
It is my duty to bring the truth to light and accurately describe the human experience. But, it is also my responsibility to grow and protect my characters, as well as those real people who have been Frankenstein together to create them.
So yes, dear reader. I will write a story about you. Whether you said something kind that helped me through the day or did something that broke my spirit for years, you will be present in my work.
This one is for that nasally voiced girl from the fifth grade. Here is your published piece, the one I promised to write about you.
