tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post3592641478715938701..comments2023-08-29T07:27:24.934-06:00Comments on The Pajama Gardener: From nonfiction to fictionCarleen Bricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-56123367898094522522007-09-24T08:32:00.000-06:002007-09-24T08:32:00.000-06:00Reality, maybe you can use what appeals to you abo...Reality, maybe you can use what appeals to you about journalism in your fiction? Build on a true story?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by!Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-50848077575804926612007-09-24T01:08:00.000-06:002007-09-24T01:08:00.000-06:00Hi Carleen,I'm here through Lisa at Eudemonia.And ...Hi Carleen,<BR/><BR/>I'm here through Lisa at Eudemonia.<BR/>And sometimes i wonder if I should start writing short pieces of NF. Journalism has always attracted me. Fiction much more, because I like to create what didn't exist before. There is some sort of magic in the process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-37170477274883464342007-09-23T16:12:00.000-06:002007-09-23T16:12:00.000-06:00Amy, I don't think I've laid myself as bare in my ...Amy, I don't think I've laid myself as bare in my nf. I've expected responses from my family that I didn't get. Maybe it's just whatever project I'm working on at the time is the scary one? :)Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-50796846665626078422007-09-23T13:30:00.000-06:002007-09-23T13:30:00.000-06:00Fascinating post, thanks for sharing. I know ever...Fascinating post, thanks for sharing. I know everyone says that fiction reveals more of the writer than nonfiction, but that isn't true in my case -- at least not with my current project. I really lay myself out with my essays, though.<BR/><BR/>Carleen, isn't it odd to write about family in your nf? I know I've crossed the line at times, but I've never regretted it.<BR/><BR/>AmyLynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11107479565926998943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-89224283267312022172007-09-22T23:15:00.000-06:002007-09-22T23:15:00.000-06:00I'm so glad you posted about this because I was wo...I'm so glad you posted about this because I was wondering about the addition of fiction to your substantial non-fiction accomplishments too. Many people believe that art of fiction is, at its best, a manifestation of the artist's/writer's subconscious. I think I believe that's true of the most successful works (successful meaning the ones that work, not the ones that sell). Of course the subconscious is such a deep ocean underneath the surface of our conscious selves that what emerges is often a surprise to everyone and probably has little bearing on the writer's real world. I believe the subconscious is where the words come from during those rare times (and I wish I could will them more often) when it feels like I'm "in the zone". I know your mother would be proud of you. :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-68861272098153170482007-09-22T17:42:00.000-06:002007-09-22T17:42:00.000-06:00Good one, Rebecca. Characters do smell like us and...Good one, Rebecca. Characters do smell like us and people we've known.<BR/><BR/>Scout, I'm already familiar with the strange things people bring to the reading of the work. Thanks for the comment about my mom.<BR/><BR/>Ello, Let's hope your legal memos are nonfiction! :)Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-16218388789200172822007-09-22T15:43:00.000-06:002007-09-22T15:43:00.000-06:00Great post! I think it is so important to have peo...Great post! I think it is so important to have people around you who will support you and your writing because writing is such a difficult profession to undertake. I haven't written nonfiction, unless you call my legal memos nonfiction ;o). But I do think writing fiction is revealing because it is almost like you are opening up a window to your soul.Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-10267818099948112702007-09-22T14:42:00.000-06:002007-09-22T14:42:00.000-06:00Funny this was mentioned Sunday morning at the Tob...Funny this was mentioned Sunday morning at the Tobias Wolff lecture/talk about fact in fiction, Carleen. It's amazing what slips in between the lines, but it's also amazing what readers bring to their reading of your work. I think with your first novel you're going to find this a fascinating phenomenon.<BR/><BR/>And I KNOW your mom's proud of you!Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31902352.post-83009858800992431302007-09-22T13:09:00.000-06:002007-09-22T13:09:00.000-06:00I know exactly what you mean about fiction showing...I know exactly what you mean about fiction showing more of your slip than non-fiction. The really scary thing about fiction is that you are quite possibly revealing things (or at least hinting at) that you as the writer are not even consciously aware of, but your readers may be.<BR/><BR/>I always wonder if this is why so many fiction writers adamantly insist that their novels are not based on their experiences. Because what's on the page can end up so twistedly real, it would be awful to admit you think, feel, or act the way some of your characters may. It's so much safer for a writer (and their family) to deny any relation to page people. <BR/><BR/>We only make them up, but they still smell a lot like us and people we have known.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com