Hello everyone, I've just joined and think this looks like a fantastic community. I hope this isn't an idiotic or irritating question. I find that more of myself and my experiences, both emotional and practical, are seeping into my protagonist and narrator than I intended. Perhaps I should turn to a third person narrative. Thanks for any ideas.
Thank you, Clare. I have also realised that though I am not exactly treating writing as therapy (in my case I doubt it would be successful anyway) I have also perhaps drawn to an uncomfortable extent on negative experiences I've had, which can be self-indulgent and tedious for the reader Yet I don't feel these experiences are entirely valueless in my writing. I will at least try as an exercise re-casting some of it in a third person narrative. Advice and support much appreciated.
As long as you don't reveal ALL your dirty knickers - or make it easy to identify friends, family, and/or acquaintances - why not?
Just use the standard lie: "All characters are figments of my fevered imagination and bear no resemblance to real people, living or dead. And no, I am NOT the narrator! This is FICTION!!!"
Hi Debra. My answer to that would be it's entirely up to you as the writer. As long as you're comfortable with it, and stay true to your characters. I wrote my novel in first person and found it easier to detach when I wrote in third, so if it's something you're worried about then you could try writing in third and see which feels more comfortable to you. Funnily enough I find it much easier to write from the PoV of my male antagonist! But that might just be because I'm used to working with people just like him.
Happy writing.
Clare :)