Paranoid Friends and Family?

[kaytie]

Hey, all you writer-types,

In my family, there is one person who is convinced I'm going to write about her in my fiction. She's absolutely terrified about that, even though I've no intention of pillaging my family for ideas. (At least, not the part of the family she's in. ;P )

Even if I wanted to write about the people I know, there are a lot of reasons not to do so.

1) There are tons of stories to tell and the ones that borrow from friends and family aren't the only ones
2) Best not to hurt the ones who love you, since there are so many people ready to be indifferent towards you
3) Making stuff all the way up is fun

Grace Metalious wrote about people and places she knew in Peyton Place, and caused a bit of a stir in her hometown because of it--people resented her for using them to make money (both her novel and the movie based on it did very well) and because some people (perhaps those who had reason?) were not portrayed in the best light.

Anyone have a friend or family member who is convinced they're in your book or story? Does that person's paranoia hinder your writing? Your creativity? Is there a story you're dying to tell but can't/won't because of whom it might affect?

You don't have to go into details here. Just wondering if my experience is an anomaly.

[sleepydumpling]

See I'm the opposite... I'm going to pillage, plunder and pillory my screwed up family and all the crapola "friends" I've had in my life and put them in my work! I'll just keep the people I love and respect out of it!

Reading is sexy and revenge is sweet!

[Scott]

Can writers help but write about their families?

Whenever I write fiction, I often use people I know to help me develop my characters. In the same way, I use the events in my life to help develop the events in my story.

In a way, I see writing fiction as just rearranging what we have learned from experience.

Anyway, I've never been concerned about who might be upset by writing on a personal level, but that's probably because I don't write that much and don't usually plan on getting my fiction writing published.