The problem with fictionalized autobiography.

A character in a play I once performed in said "I think people who only write about what they know, only write about that they know because they're too stupid to make something up." It's a good philosophy. Making things up is the whole point of fiction. Unfortunately, i also write as a release mechanism. Two nights ago I was woken up by an idea for a play. With out going into too much detail, (If I talk too much about it before I finish it, it won't get done) It deals with some characters loosely based on real life people. Now I don't know if People who read the script would know this unless they knew the real life counterparts but I'm afraid that the counterparts would. It feels wrong to fictionalize peoples life for what some would consider entertainment. The problem is confounded when the fiction comes closer to reality than I could have guessed. One of my characters who wasn't based in Real life just materialized in my world. This raises the question of verisimilitude. If I write truthful characters, there will be people in the nonfiction universe who identify with them. There was an anecdote about John Lennon , where this homeless teenager traveled a long distance to meet John because "your songs were about my life," John replied with something along the lines of "Helter Skelter was just about a roller coaster" Does art imitate life or is it the other way 'round? This new person in my life exhibits characteristics of Steve, my character. Primarily in his relations with others. I was thinking of submitting this play to RROAPS next year but now I'm not so sure.

Also I like the double meaning of the word fecund

Why don't you come right out and say it  ¶ 4/23/2007 03:08:00 PM