tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post5251776295763690955..comments2023-10-24T05:53:13.006-05:00Comments on Something She Wrote: HonestyJanna Leadbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-38150072420852242902009-02-19T20:47:00.000-06:002009-02-19T20:47:00.000-06:00Hi, Cindy! Glad to see you. :) That might be when ...Hi, Cindy! Glad to see you. :) That might be when it's <I>most</I> important - when you have little in common with your character. That honesty will help her come through more authentically. Good luck!Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-23925933769434147502009-02-19T19:23:00.000-06:002009-02-19T19:23:00.000-06:00Oh, I can totally relate to this post. I never re...Oh, I can totally relate to this post. I never really thought about it, but a lot of myself is reflected in my character. And while I feel I'm being honest to myself (basing characters actions or reactions off something I may do myself) I may not always be being honest to my characters and in turn the readers. I think I've probably held back some or written "safe" characters because I wonder Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-16500558812930433452009-02-17T11:24:00.000-06:002009-02-17T11:24:00.000-06:00Kimmi ("ww") - You're right about that self-satisf...Kimmi ("ww") - You're right about that self-satisfaction part. :)<BR/><BR/>Angie - The part, especially, about it not being a memoir DOES give light to new perspective. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Joy - That's great advice. And I'm very curious about your mom's life!<BR/><BR/>Heidi - I think that's part of the joy for me; putting myself in another's shoes and writing as if it were me, doing something I'd Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-32085685879202037212009-02-17T09:51:00.000-06:002009-02-17T09:51:00.000-06:00And even more - when the truth is centered around ...And even more - when the truth is centered around another person, it's even more difficult. In TG, the father drinks too much - when my father read it, he said "why did you make me into a drunk professor? I've been sober for almost 50 years!" -- I tried to tell him it isn't him - but a fictional character...however, we both know there are truths in the character that are my father's truths....andKathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-27296324750182233702009-02-17T09:41:00.000-06:002009-02-17T09:41:00.000-06:00Honesty in writing for me is trying to convey how ...Honesty in writing for me is trying to convey how people would really act in a situation, to get across that real, raw emotion. No on is perfect, so even characters I like a lot will experience a range./colbymarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056535503422186623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-32460657396096643052009-02-17T09:11:00.000-06:002009-02-17T09:11:00.000-06:00PS My first response was regarding blogging and es...PS My first response was regarding blogging and essay writing. As for fiction, I find myself calling up ugly, sad, happy moments in my life as they apply to different scenes, and they only serve to make my fiction meatier, more compelling.<BR/><BR/>I love being able to relive experiences through fiction.Jewel Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614039445924074306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-69729481619290108582009-02-17T09:07:00.000-06:002009-02-17T09:07:00.000-06:00I know I am being honest in my writing when I am s...I know I am being honest in my writing when I am scared/exhilarated...when I feel genuine emotion.<BR/><BR/>It's a great feeling, but sometimes, when a stranger takes it lightly, I just try to shrug it off. There's more positive than negative to honest writing.Jewel Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614039445924074306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-69381734466384216892009-02-17T09:00:00.000-06:002009-02-17T09:00:00.000-06:00I've only had that concern give me pause me once o...I've only had that concern give me pause me once or twice, but then I kept writing what was in my head. I guess I look at it that it IS fiction, so even if I share some of the beliefs I'm writing, I can just deny deny deny.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-75533135782971915022009-02-17T07:38:00.000-06:002009-02-17T07:38:00.000-06:00I think about honesty often while I'm blogging. I...I think about honesty often while I'm blogging. I'm pretty blantantly honest, but I avoid certain topics. I don't want to hurt people with my honesty.<BR/><BR/>Writing fiction would be completely different. No taboo topics because it's "fiction".<BR/><BR/>-FringeGirlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-30655627324927780152009-02-17T06:55:00.000-06:002009-02-17T06:55:00.000-06:00I like to say in character, but I'm sure certain t...I like to say in character, but I'm sure certain that parts of my morality come through in my writing. For example, one of my characters believe deeply in justice, so much so that she pursues it like a predator. But I'm not that passionate about justice, not passionate enough to hunt people down.<BR/>But I do think justice is necessary and good, so amplify that a bit and I've got a major Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-87274915095233292572009-02-16T22:58:00.000-06:002009-02-16T22:58:00.000-06:00Boy, that's a tough question. I guess I would say...Boy, that's a tough question. I guess I would say that it is important to be true to the character--that's where the honesty comes in. I guess I don't think of it is me who is doing or saying it but the character. That being said, I choose not to write about characters who do things I truly would not feel comfortable writing about. (so much for honesty, eh?)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660156433881882098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-42845337137578396372009-02-16T21:03:00.000-06:002009-02-16T21:03:00.000-06:00Since I am writing my mother's biography, being ho...Since I am writing my mother's biography, being honest had been a huge question for me from the beginning (almost 10 years ago).<BR/><BR/>She has been gone for 29 years and her life was just too extraordinary not to tell it like it was with all the good, the bad AND the ugly.<BR/><BR/>The best advice I received was, "If the truth is an integral part of the story then you must put it in." That Joy and Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14907461600009160766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-11465553511731220242009-02-16T20:55:00.000-06:002009-02-16T20:55:00.000-06:00Interesting discussion. It IS hard to write with c...Interesting discussion. <BR/><BR/>It IS hard to write with complete honesty for the reason you and others expressed...but as Hemingway said, "Write one true sentence..." If you also write in the inspirational/Christian realm (which is what my first book is), then it's trickier expanding to other genres. <BR/><BR/>Think of it this way: You are not your book and your book is not a memoir. Readers Angie Ledbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407006980893727627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-55538936222630253472009-02-16T19:15:00.000-06:002009-02-16T19:15:00.000-06:00Nicely said, Joanne.Honesty. You can feel it and i...Nicely said, Joanne.<BR/><BR/>Honesty. You can feel it and it's a very powerful emotion and self-satisfaction within yourself. It's also courage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-36739073258814515272009-02-16T16:13:00.000-06:002009-02-16T16:13:00.000-06:00Rafael - Great advice! I've been on a learning pat...Rafael - Great advice! I've been on a learning path, too, and it's been great.<BR/><BR/>Michele - Yes, busy for sure! Glad to see you, and hope you're well. :)Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-11397686559434109992009-02-16T15:33:00.000-06:002009-02-16T15:33:00.000-06:00I try to always write from my heart. I could share...I try to always write from my heart. I could share more, but then sometimes I wonder if I share too much... ;-)<BR/><BR/>Hope you're doing well, Janna. Life is busy, eh?<BR/><BR/>*smiles*<BR/>MicheleMichele | aka Raw Juice Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00157347090741037452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-71433713891803530002009-02-16T14:11:00.000-06:002009-02-16T14:11:00.000-06:00Honesty and risk taking go hand in hand. You are e...Honesty and risk taking go hand in hand. You are exposing yourself (figuratively of course) in your writing. Might as well embrace it. I learned so much about myself in the past year by the way I write and what I write about. It has made all the difference in the world.<BR/><BR/>So embrace your shadow self and let it come through to land on the page. <BR/><BR/>Talking of the shadow self, here is Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07493201776902196284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-20244912278396047112009-02-16T13:38:00.000-06:002009-02-16T13:38:00.000-06:00Barbara - Oh, I think we all have those down days....Barbara - Oh, I think we all have those down days.<BR/><BR/>Turk - That's a great way to look at it: rebelling with no consequences. I've noticed I kind of live vicariously through my MCs.<BR/><BR/>Melissa - This is something I've thought of often, because I believe there's a delicate line between the two. And that's, I guess, kind of what I'm getting at with this post. Should the characters and Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-58877103645982959562009-02-16T13:27:00.000-06:002009-02-16T13:27:00.000-06:00I tend to write what I fear and blow it up into dr...I tend to write what I fear and blow it up into dramatic proportions. So, in a way I'm writing honestly, but not from direct experience. Does that make sense?WendyCinNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548500219172368038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-41928679776288555052009-02-16T13:26:00.000-06:002009-02-16T13:26:00.000-06:00For me, honesty in writing means that the situatio...For me, honesty in writing means that the situations, characters, and action all interact in ways that they actually would behave if the circumstances and people invovlved were real. Even when they do things I wouldn't, or say things that might offend people. Because there are people out there that hold beliefs that offend me greatly or do things I consider to be awful. But they're true to theJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11705320883615938075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-36417606410720187942009-02-16T12:38:00.000-06:002009-02-16T12:38:00.000-06:00I write from personal experiences and the only way...I write from personal experiences and the only way to tell the story is honestly, though I try to take into consideration, for the reader and market, how I express that in words.Donna M. Kohlstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04268172745025677265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-65446806482588977502009-02-16T11:46:00.000-06:002009-02-16T11:46:00.000-06:00Oh, being completely honest is hard. Sometimes my ...Oh, being completely honest is hard. Sometimes my characters want to cuss - really bad words. But I won't let them. Is that being honest or being true to your value system? Because let's face it - what we write will be read by lots of people (hopefully).Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-88024768568247700052009-02-16T11:43:00.000-06:002009-02-16T11:43:00.000-06:00Wow. I've never thought about people connecting m...Wow. I've never thought about people connecting my writing with me. I always seem to take the approach of using an "alter ego". I like to write the things I'd like to do, but couldn't. (This might be a reason why so many actors like to play the part of the villain.) Writing gives me a chance to be rebellious, only without the consequences.JLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405559509794744714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-80474737421876643572009-02-16T11:11:00.000-06:002009-02-16T11:11:00.000-06:00I try to write from my heart and keep it as real a...I try to write from my heart and keep it as real as possible. On days when I'm really down, it's difficult to find the words. <BR/><BR/>I like Amy and Joanne's answers.Barb Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04622630143832437565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-52452792574665786302009-02-16T09:44:00.000-06:002009-02-16T09:44:00.000-06:00Amy, I know just what you mean. What if we expose ...Amy, I know just what you mean. What if we expose an experience or personality and it offends? An awareness I have, too.<BR/><BR/>Joanne, yes! I love your clarification of the two <I>kinds</I> of honesty, and your phrase about moving forward "without apology" is PERFECT.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.com