I've decided to stop pretending I'm writing a novel!

What I'm actually doing is writing, pretty much as if happened, but with some atristic license here and there, an episodic account of my experiences as a survivor of child sexual abuse.

Many of you will be familiar with my poems that address this subject, but I have always written longer prose about it too, and in attempting something like the 'Symmetry of Dreams' what I'm trying to do is draw it all together and see what I've got. See if anything coherent emerges.
It may be something that in the end is only for personal satisfaction/therapy, it may be something that stands as a memoir and could perhaps be published as such, or it may be something that gives me the groundwork for a novel. I don't know.

I hope this doesn't put potential readers, and critics, off, but I was getting confused taking something based so strongly in reality and trying to then fictionalise it.
What I really want to do is tell is like it was/is. I would love it if some readers can feedback to me about how well this telling works.

Finally, a warning that this work will contain references and scenes which may be triggering. TAKE CARE AND DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THEM.

x
tc

Go for it, tc. If it becomes something that is personal to you, then you just don't post it. Who knows what might come of it all. It's not something that you have hidden so as long as you're ok telling it, then I'll read it!

Sue
x

Thanks, Sue!
Posting it is funny, I'm OK with it, I sense some may not feel so comfortable, but I figure these limits arre there to be challenged.

I don't know where its heading, but I want to try and make it the best quality writing that I can and hence feel justified about posting, and also, it is telling a story - quite a powerful one - and it may be that, difficult though it is, others want to hear it.
I guess only time will tell!

Thanks for your support!
x
tc

Hi TC,

Sounds like a pretty good basis for a novel to me. You don't have to stop pretending anything, just write it as you feel, just as you do with your poems.

In terms of fictionalised / autobiographical ...
my own writing (which I always post of fiction) usually contains an element of myself in the MC. Sometimes it is wholly me! Your comments made me think of novels like Man and Boy by Tony Parsons and Angela's Ashes / 'Tis by Frank McCourt (is it McCourt?). These are, in the main, autobiograpghical accounts, yet they were best selling novels.

Shay

tc

Good luck with this - whatever you end up doing with it!

I hope it works for you!

(And it's still a great story!)

All the best

jumbo xx

Hi tc,

I'm with you all the way on this (at least I hope to be - I'm still catching up with unread work!) You've done what you can and you've been honest with people (and yourself) that this is a real-life account about a subject which some may feel far too uncomfortable to read about. And you've warned people accordingly.

The other problem people might have, although they've read your work, is commenting on the style of writing knowing that the subject matter is real life. It almost seems ridiculous to pick out typos or sentence structures etc, when you've just read something so personal and devastating...but this is something that has to be overcome if you're going to get the critiquing (critting?? - someone please tell me which is the correct word) that you need as a writer regardless of the subject matter. If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get From me, anyway. Again, please be patient with me if I don't read and comment immediately

Good luck!

Nahed x

Shay, Jumbs, Wordy, thanks for your support....
I'm beginning to regret changing the tag for this work, now I've come clean that its a 'memoir' no one is reading! It was doing OK as fiction!

I have to think seriously about this, because obviously if it can't get an audience on WW, what hope is there for it in the wider world?
I don't know if the fact that it's true is the killer - Bill apologised for commenting - so there seems to be a feeling that true stuff is sacred and can't be critted.
Or obviously its the subject matter...not a great deal I can do about that except write something else!
I obviously need to do some thinking about what this is and where it's going, but thanks for the positive thoughts in the meantime!
x
tc

Tiny, there's an interesting line on this that has just started in the Mark Haddon debate. Should we write about stories that infringe on the personal, or is it exploitative? I'm all for writing about anything and everything. I didn't realise you'd updated Symmetry. I'll go and have a look:-) sxx

I have to think seriously about this, because obviously if it can't get an audience on WW, what hope is there for it in the wider world?

Every hope. Just because people haven't commented on it here doesn't mean that it isn't worth writing. There are loads of uploads (novels) that are great and from talented writers but only get a smattering of comments. Don't give up on this, tc, and don't be put off because you're not getting as many comments. I think what you need to do is make the most of the comments/critiquing that you get from those who do in order to hone the storytelling and novel writing skills. I'm sure a lot of people are reading it, tc, and reading because of all the reasons which prevent them from commenting - the rawness, the reality. So don't measure the number of comments on how good or bad your work is - it's the quality of the comments.

Nx

Yes, Shyama, I've just seen the comments in the Mark Haddon thread. I feel a bit too involved to comment, but I guess I too think nothing is taboo. For me the only way to break down barriers and overcome the terrible silence that so many are condemned to is for those of us who have finally found some sort of voice, to use it...

Wordy, thanks...I certainly do intend to make use of the comments I get. I'm realising I'm a novice at the many skills needed for prose and I've had some cracking advice on all episodes of Symmetry so far.

I hope it doesn't sound that I'm complaining about lack of comments. I don't really mean that at all, I am just very thoughtful about the nature of this work and the possible reactions of people to it.
As Shyama said on her comment on the latest Symmetry, I have to learn the technique of not alienating the reader when the subject matter is so strong..
Hopefully its a skill I can learn.
x
tc

Tc, I'm positive that Nahed is spot on - it is being read on WW but few have commented for the reasons stated. As I said in my comments on the last chapter, it is a very difficult piece of work to crit for all sorts of reasons. For one thing it's almost impossible to do more than actually read the first time, and if it had been full of typos I don't think I could have stopped to note them. For another, one wants the overall picture before one begins, and knowing that it's true and that you're hesitant and less used to writing prose than poetry there's the fear of inhibiting your creative flow with small things that might or might not need to be improved later. So do write on, and remember that a true story with legs has a far better chance of publication than non-fiction.

Nell.

Thanks Nell, I do intend to try and carry on and hone my skills. I know they're very raw right now - and I wish over the last year I'd read more prose on WW and picked up a few tips - but all I can do is gradually try and get the technical side better.

Like you, I feel the pieces probably have been read, (another vote for that hit counter we keep pestering David for!), but that people feel they can't comment. I understand that, it's just my insecurity as a writer that takes that and makes all sorts of mischief with it!
x
tc

Stick with it, tc.

It's an incredible piece of writing. Please don't give up on it.

And stop worrying so much about the skills you say you don't have - 'cause we (I) know different. I've only read the first two parts of 'Symmetry' (sorry, I guess there's more up there to be read) - but it's pretty obvious that you have a real talent with words - in prose or poetry!!

So stay with it. We're (I'm) rooting for you!!

All the best

jumbs xx

Thanks Jumbs,
No, I don't intend to give up with it as I've got a few more 'chapters'/episodes mapped out and there have been some interesting developments recently which will give me more material once the flak dies down.
Perhaps though, I need to think about my (potential) audience more..if I'm cutting people off - and putting them off - then I have to try and address that somehow.

As to the craft, I do still have lots to learn, about getting the structure of things right and suchlike - you lot make it look so easy!

xx
tc

tc, the only reason you cut ME off was because I had my archive page set for fiction only – so I didn’t realise you’d uploaded more.

This is exceptionally good – whether it’s fiction or fact – it’s so well written.

Keep posting a new thread in the introduce work forum to remind us.

Dee
x