My mind has been preoccupied lately. My best friend's father is dying. I'm not going to share the details here, but it is way too familiar to me...
The MC in my WIP is partly based on her. In the first few chapters of my book, my MC's father is dying. There is one scene where she goes to see him at Hospice. I had such a vivid picture in my mind of this meeting. It is a powerfully emotional scene.
Today my best friend's dad was moved to Hospice. Suddenly I thought of that chapter. The reality is totally different, but still it struck me...
We often incorporate things into our writing based on things we have experienced. But have you ever experienced something you previously wrote about?
13 comments:
That's a good question. I need to think about it.
I am praying this morning for your friend and her father. I understand.
Wow...I'm sorry to hear that. I'll keep your friend in my prayers.
I have to say though, it's a first for me. I've never written something and then experienced it.
I'm so sorry about your best friend's father.
I haven't encountered anything I've previously written about, and I can imagine how eerie it must feel. That's absolutely an emotional experience.
Actually I did once in a newspaper column years ago, the incident was of a far more lighthearted nature however.
If writing is based on experience don't we tend to write ahead, subconsciously using what we know to be a possible logical outcome?
I am sorry to hear about your best friend's father.
Yes, time and again. In 2004, I wrote a novel called Category Five. It came out in October 2005, 2 months after Katrina slammed into the Gulf coast. I ended up doing 20 radio shows in 3 days because the media was desperate for information about hurricanes. The same thing happened to me in 1992, when I wrote a novel called Storm Surge about a at cat 5 hurricane that slams into south florida - 10 days ater I mailed off the manuscript to my editor, Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead.
There's a collective soup that fiction writers tap into. You found it.
I am sorry to hear about your friend's father ... how it's also bringing pain back to you too.
I wanted to say, a while back I told you I was about to read John Grisham for the first time. A Painted House. I remember you saying (and others said too) that is not his usual style. Which I understand.
I loved it. It's in my top ten books of all time. Probably because I studied American history and culture at university when Cotton was KING. I liked Grishams story of cotton pickers.
So thanks Lily, for the recommendation. I think I would also like to read, Stephen King on Writing. Again thanks. x
That's really interesting. Usually I write about what has happened to me already. My current characters strink it rick with gas mines--hope that one comes true!:))
I think we experience this connection because we are all one. You can write about something that already exists in life even if you are not aware of it. Lots of good energy and prayer to your friend's father
XXX
What a wonderful question! Now I'm going to have to think about this.
Hi Lily -
Haven't seen you around the blogosphere. Now I know why. Sorry about your friend's dad.
No, I incorporate experiences/emotions in my writing. I've never written something fictional only to have it become non-fiction in my life.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Lily,
No, I don't think I've written about something that has later come true, but I have sometimes had what I thought was an original idea only to open a magazine and find that someone else has written 'my' story!
Thanks for your kind message. Yes, I'm still alive and well but very busy. I will update my blog - today!
Sorry to hear about your friend's father - very difficult time for all concerned.
Oh dear, I hope I never do. I'd sadly feel like I jinxed it, even though I know that isn't Christian thinking, but still I fail that way.
It has never happened to me either. And if I could, boy, would I/the world be in trouble. I don't think I am even remotely capable of writing a happy ending or anything close. Thankfully, there is One already working on that.
My prayers and wishes to your, your friend, and her father.
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