Christine Kelly Reads and Writes

Today I received a email from a writing friend. She was curious how much of my real life I put in my stories after she was questioned about the premise of her story and the inspiration for it (from a non-author).

Honestly, the question triggered a rage in me I try to tamper. But I’ve heard it before and I hate when it comes up again and again.

First, if someone asks how much fact vs fiction is in your story, the answer is this: the story is fiction because you say it’s fiction and know it’s fiction.

That’s not to say your stories don’t include things that has come from something you experienced. Or your premise doesn’t reflect an experience you had. That can be the case and your story is still fiction.

I personally believe it would be impossible not to have our memories/life experiences impact our writing or ideas. It’s our brain forming fictional lives/worlds and it’s going to do so based on how we’ve perceived and experienced our world/lives. Even better if we can draw from personal experiences to make it more realistic and relatable.

And even if you’re exploring a “what if”- don’t we all? It doesn’t mean you care less about whatever it is you’re exploring or want your life to be different. It just means you’re curious. At least I have done that before. It may be a little “out there” but it’s how my mind works. I hate to think that a comment could make one question their story or get weirded out about how it started.

It’s so easy to lose confidence in our stories, through beta feedback, querying, etc. So to having the outside world intrude on an industry they know little about, asking questions about how real our stories are or whatever they may be, frustrates me.

My writing has been impacted by my life and I’ve included many details (even people) in my work. My SHINY PENNY manuscript has a group of friends based on my IRL friends. DANIELLE’S NINE DATES FROM HELL includes the Ninja Turtles because my husband danced with a woman dressed like that on halloween when we first met. My new WIP’s love interest is named Ted, my husband’s nickname.

Real life seeps in and that doesn’t mean that you wish your life was how you’re writing it in your books. Real life seeps in because it forms our opinion of the worlds we create. And we have the power to also use that for good. But that’s for another soap box I’ll stand on at another time.

For now, I wish you all best of luck when sharing the news you wrote/are writing a book to people not in the publishing industry. If you’ve experienced the same question over and over, or a similar reaction, please share!