Hi all,
Sable Angel here. I recently bumped into the reality of perceptions. Since I've completed the beginning book of my dragon series, I'm moving to complete other novels I've had in the works. One is loosely based on a historical event that happened in Salem, Oregon in May, 1981.
Long before Kip Kinkle or the Columbine incident, Salem suffered a multiple shooting that made international headlines. Four were killed and nineteen were wounded. The incident occurred when many of us were in our prime and affected an entire generation.
When I mention I'm writing about the incident, invariably, the conversation will turn to the night; where people were, what they were doing, were they at the particular bar, and so on.
Where perception comes in is when I note I'm writing a 'novel'. Apparently most folks don't understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction. I'm asked what my book will be about and I offer a simple explanation.
That's when perception kicks in. Others don't seem to grasp the concept of literary license. I'm starting with a set of hard facts and picking and choosing those which will work to my advantage in my story.
It's been a hard lesson but I've learned not to mention the book anymore due to the still sensitive nature of the subject even after 29 years. I'll write my book and, hopefully, have it published but to much less fanfare than I had hoped.
Keep your wings dry.
Sable Angel
Hi, Sable!
ReplyDeleteI've run into "other people's perceptions" also in books I write in trying to see fictional places as real ones. I had someone say to me, "this house is the one in the town where I grew up." And I said no, it started out as one I saw in a book and made modifications to fit my story.
You're right, they had a difficult time separating fact from fiction. Isn't it interesting to get paid to make things up? LOL!