Real life based or fiction?

[yowser]

My only 100% real story is in NonHuman.

Joke fell flat. Apologies.

 

[Naughty_Natalie]

Joke fell flat. Apologies.

lol

 

[stickygirl]

They say truth is stranger than fiction and there's some very strange stories on Lit so... they must be true, right? Why bother with truth if a moment's distraction - a man straightening his jacket in a shop window, a glance across a room, the menthol tang of cut pine, all spark our imagination to create a chain of thoughts and memories. The trick is to keep the spark alive long enough to set it on paper and be careful how you fan the flames.
Woo, I could be a writer As Kumquat said - bits n pieces of one's life. To reveal what incident or story is factual would be unwise.

 

[TheRedChamber]

After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

I think for me, most stories start with a single core concept - a kind of unique selling point. A lot of my plot development stems from teasing at that until the full structure reveals itself. I had a good example of it this morning when, half-asleep I composed a plot and when I wrote up wrote down a synopsis for. My thought process went something like.

1 - "Mother sets up lesbian date for her shy daughter." - Hmm, okay that's interesting, but once daughter and plus one have gone off on a date, how is that going to be different from a regular story? Still while most 'modern' parents aren't going to be so concerned about their daughters being gay, most 'modern' parent are also quite hands off in their kids dating lives. So nice contrast and there may be something here. Concept needs to be stronger though...
2 - "Mother goes to a lesbian bar with her daughter specifically to find someone for her." This is an idea that can lead to character-moments and cringe humour moments. Over-bearing mother and mortified daughter.
3 - Daughter looks like Joni Mitchell. Don't know why, she just does.
4 - Why has daughter agreed to this? She hasn't, its an ambush. Suddenly I know where this is set - mother takes the daughter to see a show in Shaftsbury Avenue (in London) and then says why not get a drink at bar (Old Compton Street 'the gay quarter' is one street away). Birthday treat for daughter, also suggesting they live in a village and are only visiting London for the night and mother wants daughter to 'make the most of it'. Partially explains why daughter is inexperienced, but not completely.
5 - Check what's actually on at Shaftsbury Avenue for inspiration. Turns out its '& Juliet' - a 'sequel' to Romeo & Juliet where Juliet doesn't die and featuring the music of Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. I can't possibly think of anything worse. It's perfect. Opening argument between mother and daughter will be about how daughter though they were actually going to see Romeo and Juliet. Realize that dynamic between mother and daughter is going to be more Absolutely Fabulous than Keeping Up Apperences (apologies for UK sitcom references). Once I've mentally run through this opening conversation in my mind a bit, I know a lot more about who the characters are.
6 - Quick gut feeling questions. Is daughter going to find love? Yes. Is mother going to find love? Yes. Is this an incest story? Nope. Why hasn't daughter got her own life together? Hmm.
7 - If mother is to find love then she needs a lover. Plus just hooking up with first bar patrons is boring. First bar has a 'too old crowd' - they do meet a 'mentor' character there who takes them to the club with the younger crowd.
8 - Begs questions, where is dad in all this? I avoid cheating stories by and large, so dead or divorced. Let's go with dead as thats a good way to give the daughter directionless life syndrome. He died suddenly during A-Level year which explains why she's not at university and leading the hedonistic student lifestyle. She's on a gap year and currently in 'lay down and rot' mode. Also makes mother more well meaning in her attempts to push her into stuff.
9 - Don't like the 'sex starts on the day of your eighteenth birthday' trope so daughter is probably nineteen at least. Don't like the whole 'I intuited your sexuality and know whats best for you' trope, so daughter has probably said "Mum, I'm a lesbian," at some point (to shut her up talking about boys) and instantly regretted it.
...

And so on, until I have a complete working outline that I try to write down before I forget. Most plotting for me is a series of deductions about how best to present the initial idea.

From discussing with other writers I know this process can be completely different for other people. Some people spend their initial effort working out who the characters are and only then deciding what situations they get themselves in.

Plotting is sometimes discribed as being like searching for dinosaur bones. You find the start of a skull and you slowly dust away the area around it until you have uncovered the whole skeleton. There's something to that. The above is probably more way complicated than most (it's looking like a 15-20k word story) - it just happened I'd found a tyranasaurus rex on this occassion rather than a microraptor. Great, but I don't have time to write it at the moment as I have other stuff to do. It'll just sit there.

 

[ElectricBlue]

From discussing with other writers I know this process can be completely different for other people. Some people spend their initial effort working out who the characters are and only then deciding what situations they get themselves in.

I don't think I have that much conscious plot at the end of a story, let alone before I write one!

I've got a first time experiment going on right now. I'm wanting to wrap up a quick follow-on story for something written recently. The first half, typical EB, I just got on and wrote, four thousand words, easy peasy.

The second half though, what with one thing and another outside writing, was dragging on a bit, so I wrote a series of scene sentences, to get it done. I'm following them, but I don't like it all - I keep feeling the spontaneity has gone out the window, and I'm sure I'm letting my characters down, by not letting them do what they want to do. I really don't like it, even a simple plan like the one I've got. It feels like a massive constraint. Definitely proves it for me, I cannot plan my writing!

 

[TheRedChamber]

I don't think I have that much conscious plot at the end of a story, let alone before I write one!

I've got a first time experiment going on right now. I'm wanting to wrap up a quick follow-on story for something written recently. The first half, typical EB, I just got on and wrote, four thousand words, easy peasy.

The second half though, what with one thing and another outside writing, was dragging on a bit, so I wrote a series of scene sentences, to get it done. I'm following them, but I don't like it all - I keep feeling the spontaneity has gone out the window, and I'm sure I'm letting my characters down, by not letting them do what they want to do. I really don't like it, even a simple plan like the one I've got. It feels like a massive constraint. Definitely proves it for me, I cannot plan my writing!

Oddly, I've been going the other way and attempting to pants-write a few stories. I've also been consiously trying to reduce the amount of moving parts and trying to write a lot more 'they meet then they fuck' (and possibly have the occassional feelings as well) type stories. It's been good for my productivity though I do like a good intricate faberge egg plot.

The key to me is that characters do get to do what they want only they're making a lot of those decisions at the planning stage rather than at the writing stage. There's an iterative process of 'what kinds of characters would get in this situation' followed by 'what would this character do next in this situation'. Hopefully good situations should breed good characters who get into good situations. I'll tend to play through a lot of the important dialogues in my head before I write anything down.

Admittedly I tend to do a lot more one-shot stories, than reuse characters - I'm finding that when I do reuse characters I've already written it's a lot easier to let them go wild with a basic premise.

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

After lurking in here for a couple months I am curious, how much of what is being written is 100% fiction/fantasy versus how much is true or based on events that actually happened. I get the impression that the vast majority are completely works of fiction but I have seen some comments about characters or events at least being partially based in reality. The reason I ask is because besides changing names and minor adjustments to help the story flow better for the reader, the series I am currently working on are actual events from when I was in my mid to late 20s. The next series will probably be the same except based on more recent events that involve my husband. After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

Almost all my stuff is purely fantasy-based. I have one story that it partially based on true events (although nothing that happened to me), but the rest are just made up.

 

[EmilyMiller]

After lurking in here for a couple months I am curious, how much of what is being written is 100% fiction/fantasy versus how much is true or based on events that actually happened. I get the impression that the vast majority are completely works of fiction but I have seen some comments about characters or events at least being partially based in reality. The reason I ask is because besides changing names and minor adjustments to help the story flow better for the reader, the series I am currently working on are actual events from when I was in my mid to late 20s. The next series will probably be the same except based on more recent events that involve my husband. After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

A chunk of my stuff is semi-autobiographical. That doesn’t mean that I don’t splice together separate events (maybe ones that even occurred in different years) to make what I hope is a more interesting story. Occasionally I throw in an entirely invented idea, or - more often - a twisted take on reality.

So a good example of this is Club Emily.

*** WARNING SPOILERS ***

So most of it is a pretty straightforward retelling of a single actual night. Some details were a little different, but it’s broadly accurate. Except for the diabolical piss recycling machine.

But…

Even that is somewhat rooted in reality. It was based on a BDSM game my best friend played with me, where she would make me drink alcohol and water while restrained and not allow me to pee unless given permission. If I was allowed to, she would collect it and make me drink it. All I did was to automate the process. Though I know enough human biology to realize that the machine as described would not really work.

Even so, we didn’t play this game on the Club Emily night. I just injected it to add a different dimension to the story.

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

After lurking in here for a couple months I am curious, how much of what is being written is 100% fiction/fantasy versus how much is true or based on events that actually happened. I get the impression that the vast majority are completely works of fiction but I have seen some comments about characters or events at least being partially based in reality. The reason I ask is because besides changing names and minor adjustments to help the story flow better for the reader, the series I am currently working on are actual events from when I was in my mid to late 20s. The next series will probably be the same except based on more recent events that involve my husband. After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

If I write something that is - call it non-fiction, a memoir - then I put it in Reviews and Essays. If I count right, I think I've done eight of them. The site will approve most non-fiction put in that category unless it's, I guess, a hard-core political rant or probably something supporting or attacking a certain religion. Well, I've never had one rejected. And oddly, the scores on them were mostly pretty good.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Only one of my stories has a large chunk of heavily modified RL in it. The rest is a product of my fevered imagination.

 

[Azuldrgon]

Most of mine is fiction.
Usually, there is a little of me in everything I write.
Only those who know me can see where sometimes.

 

[gunhilltrain]

A few stories are based around true events but fictionalized enough to keep identities hidden.

If I sometimes use a true event or base a character on a real person - well, much of that happened more than forty years ago, maybe closer to fifty. It would be hard for any survivors to: 1. find Lit or other sites, 2. figure out which of hundreds of thousands of stories is about them, and 3. do the detective work to determine that it was me writing about them.

Even if they were able to do all of those unlikely things, at the age of sixty-seven, I don't care any more. One of the benefits of getting old.

 

[TruthwithaTwist]

All of my stories are based on me & my life. Like you, I change names and also some locations and timing to make them more anonymous. I will also add a few fictional “twists” or “embellishments“ to help the narrative and make them more entertaining.

All of that being said, I’m sure that if some of the women stumbled across a story of mine, there would be a “holy shit! I think that’s about me” moment.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Both of the stories I based on real events/people are about people who have been dead around 15-20 years now. I'm largely protecting myself from my judgmental family.

That is another benefit I have: almost all of my family members have passed on. I do miss some of them, but that doesn't matter. They are gone.

 

[TxRad]

I have a series of standalone stories under "Memories of...." that are probably 90% true.

The rest of my stories are all from my imagination. A good imagination is a terrible thing to waste.

But and there is always a big butt involve, some of me leaks in from the sides.

 

[Escierto]

All of my stories are based on me & my life. Like you, I change names and also some locations and timing to make them more anonymous. I will also add a few fictional “twists” or “embellishments“ to help the narrative and make them more entertaining.

All of that being said, I’m sure that if some of the women stumbled across a story of mine, there would be a “holy shit! I think that’s about me” moment.

How do your stories rate?

 

[Seadog777]

In every single one of my stories, there is at least 1 thing that is real.

Whether is a name, place, situation, etc, etc.

It's fun to have readers email me about what they THINK was real.

95% to 99% of what is written in my stories are fictional.

Just something that popped into my head, and I just rolled with it.

 

[ElectricBlue]

In every single one of my stories, there is at least 1 thing that is real.

Whether is a name, place, situation, etc, etc.

I have a writer's theory about that - that if you do have a kernel of absolute truth in a story, readers will somehow spot it (even if subconsciously) and be prepared to suspend a thousand miles of disbelief because of it. It needs only be some tiny truth, but if it's there, it's vital.

Whether this has got any actual validity, I don't know, but my truths are always there. I think it works, based on the number of comments I've had, saying, "Thank you both for sharing", when both characters were completely fictional.

 

[Seadog777]

I have a writer's theory about that - that if you do have a kernel of absolute truth in a story, readers will somehow spot it (even if subconsciously) and be prepared to suspend a thousand miles of disbelief because of it. It needs only be some tiny truth, but if it's there, it's vital.

Whether this has got any actual validity, I don't know, but my truths are always there. I think it works, based on the number of comments I've had, saying, "Thank you both for sharing", when both characters were completely fictional.

I agree with your theory.

I believe that by adding a nugget or two of truth into a story, it allows a reader to suspend disbelief and subconsciously become more involved in the story.

I get a lot of emails from readers that will guess which part(s) are true.

 

[TruthwithaTwist]

How do your stories rate?

I've been VERY fortunate. My stories for the most part have gotten really good ratings. My worst full story (not 750 word challenge) is 4.34. My highest is 4.77. I've been able to get close to 200 followers mostly by entering contests. Again, I write for fun and consider myself really fortunate with the positive results!

 

[SimonDoom]

I have a writer's theory about that - that if you do have a kernel of absolute truth in a story, readers will somehow spot it (even if subconsciously) and be prepared to suspend a thousand miles of disbelief because of it. It needs only be some tiny truth, but if it's there, it's vital.

Whether this has got any actual validity, I don't know, but my truths are always there. I think it works, based on the number of comments I've had, saying, "Thank you both for sharing", when both characters were completely fictional.

I like this theory. This dovetails with my own concept of the "write what you know" philosophy. Understood properly, it doesn't mean you should write ONLY what you know. It means that if you include what you know to be true (whatever that is, based on life experience or authentic feeling or education) in a story, even a crazy, fantastical story, the story will seem more real to readers.

 

[Euphony]

I have a writer's theory about that - that if you do have a kernel of absolute truth in a story, readers will somehow spot it (even if subconsciously) and be prepared to suspend a thousand miles of disbelief because of it. It needs only be some tiny truth, but if it's there, it's vital.

Whether this has got any actual validity, I don't know, but my truths are always there. I think it works, based on the number of comments I've had, saying, "Thank you both for sharing", when both characters were completely fictional.

Personally, it feels like the "kernel of truth" makes me write with a confidence I might not otherwise have (it's very like subconscious for me too)

Readers pick up on that or, rather, don't get tripped up by hesistations, narrative delays, and just general wishy-wash I can be guilty of when I am writing far afield.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I like this theory. This dovetails with my own concept of the "write what you know" philosophy. Understood properly, it doesn't mean you should write ONLY what you know. It means that if you include what you know to be true (whatever that is, based on life experience or authentic feeling or education) in a story, even a crazy, fantastical story, the story will seem more real to readers.

My kernels tend towards things like snippets of actual conversation, simple observational stuff (hence my endless cafe scenes and brief descriptions of real places), bit characters being people I know; that kind of thing. The embroidery that makes it a lace table cloth, not just any old table cloth.

 

[lc69hunter]

After lurking in here for a couple months I am curious, how much of what is being written is 100% fiction/fantasy versus how much is true or based on events that actually happened. I get the impression that the vast majority are completely works of fiction but I have seen some comments about characters or events at least being partially based in reality. The reason I ask is because besides changing names and minor adjustments to help the story flow better for the reader, the series I am currently working on are actual events from when I was in my mid to late 20s. The next series will probably be the same except based on more recent events that involve my husband. After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

My first story was based upon my experiences, embellished with some literary license. However, many of the stories I am working on are fiction, though some are based upon my life. My guess is that many of the writers who post one story and are never heard of again, especially in the Loving Wives section, are posting a crazy fantasy.

 

[B0bbyshaft0]

After lurking in here for a couple months I am curious, how much of what is being written is 100% fiction/fantasy versus how much is true or based on events that actually happened. I get the impression that the vast majority are completely works of fiction but I have seen some comments about characters or events at least being partially based in reality. The reason I ask is because besides changing names and minor adjustments to help the story flow better for the reader, the series I am currently working on are actual events from when I was in my mid to late 20s. The next series will probably be the same except based on more recent events that involve my husband. After that I think it would be fun to try some fiction but I wouldn't even know where to start.

My stories are fact based fiction lightly embroidered as my fancy dictates.