Really enjoyed reading this, especially as i'm currently researching what will be a historical novel, ser during the outbreak of WWII and based on my husband's grandmother's life. It does feel like a responsibility, but when I did a course in writing for children we had a high-profle author visit who'd written his memoir featuring still living people, and I asked him about this, about how to think about it, and his reply was that his memoir was still fiction, because there is no knowing or representing the truth, whatever we write will always be fiction. This has made it a lot easier for me to approach my story.
Thanks Lisa. Your WIP sounds fascinating. I can’t imagine anyone complaining if they’re shown in a good light anyhow. My own story was fiction and I’d say “inspired by an anecdote” - which was my parents Meet Cute. A novel that’s “inspired by true events” is often what is said. That’s a fascinating thing for that author to say. I once was on a course with a very high profile Scottish/UK author, who was asked why she’d waited so long to write her memoir. Her reply. “I waited until my mother had died.” When I read the book, I understood why. It was her truth, no doubt - but it would have read differently to others involved…because truth comes via many facets and belongs to each person’s view, I guess? It’s a fascinating debate. Up until now, I’ve never written historical stories but I enjoyed this one - initially as a way to write about my home town (I love trying to look at my ordinary being perhaps a little teensy bit extraordinary to someone else). Thanks again, and thanks for reading x x
The piece of land my home now sits on was once owned by the Nairn family - like large parts of Kirkcaldy. Floor cloth, then lino, made in Kirkcaldy was once sold all over the world. I believe a lot of it is now in medical settings (hospital floors) and schools etc, due to its cleanliness etc. The town once smelled of linseed oil and the other ingredients, leading to the terms "the queer-like smell of Kirkcaldy". It may have given me the bug to now try another historical, who knows!! Thanks so much for your comment, Lisa x
My hubby is very keen on lino for his office upstairs. He wants something that's environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. If it happens I will think of Kirkcaldy 🤓
Other than a cosy mystery that I set in the 1950s purely for operational reasons (no CCTV or mobile phones), most of my fiction has a contemporary setting and is more likely to be inspired by my own experiences than someone else's story. Never say, never though. My paternal grandparents lived quite the life, so their adventures could offer a rich seam for fictionalisation at some point...
Sounds intriguing! Must admit, I didn’t set out to write a historical. I was mulling over a closer to home setting. By chance I saw some 1950s photos online which highlighted how prosperous our town used to be with all the factories etc. As soon as I thought to include Nairns, I thought of all the couples who must’ve met there and then I had my story … as it turned out, my own parents Meet Cute. 🥰 I enjoyed trying something a bit different and only glad it payed off! To be the lead story with a brilliant illustration was the icing on the cake 🥰
AFTERNOTE: I guess I may have been clearer haha. My mum’s birthday was 15th July, my parents wedding anniversary was also 15th July, I found out about my short story publication and had it in my hands on 15th July. The story is a fictionalised account of my parents Meet Cute! I was pretty emotional - guess the universe moves in mysterious ways. 🥰
Really enjoyed reading this, especially as i'm currently researching what will be a historical novel, ser during the outbreak of WWII and based on my husband's grandmother's life. It does feel like a responsibility, but when I did a course in writing for children we had a high-profle author visit who'd written his memoir featuring still living people, and I asked him about this, about how to think about it, and his reply was that his memoir was still fiction, because there is no knowing or representing the truth, whatever we write will always be fiction. This has made it a lot easier for me to approach my story.
Thanks Lisa. Your WIP sounds fascinating. I can’t imagine anyone complaining if they’re shown in a good light anyhow. My own story was fiction and I’d say “inspired by an anecdote” - which was my parents Meet Cute. A novel that’s “inspired by true events” is often what is said. That’s a fascinating thing for that author to say. I once was on a course with a very high profile Scottish/UK author, who was asked why she’d waited so long to write her memoir. Her reply. “I waited until my mother had died.” When I read the book, I understood why. It was her truth, no doubt - but it would have read differently to others involved…because truth comes via many facets and belongs to each person’s view, I guess? It’s a fascinating debate. Up until now, I’ve never written historical stories but I enjoyed this one - initially as a way to write about my home town (I love trying to look at my ordinary being perhaps a little teensy bit extraordinary to someone else). Thanks again, and thanks for reading x x
It sounds like a story that needed to be told, and I loved the linoleum. I had no idea that's where it was made 🥰
The piece of land my home now sits on was once owned by the Nairn family - like large parts of Kirkcaldy. Floor cloth, then lino, made in Kirkcaldy was once sold all over the world. I believe a lot of it is now in medical settings (hospital floors) and schools etc, due to its cleanliness etc. The town once smelled of linseed oil and the other ingredients, leading to the terms "the queer-like smell of Kirkcaldy". It may have given me the bug to now try another historical, who knows!! Thanks so much for your comment, Lisa x
My hubby is very keen on lino for his office upstairs. He wants something that's environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. If it happens I will think of Kirkcaldy 🤓
This makes me very happy! :)
Other than a cosy mystery that I set in the 1950s purely for operational reasons (no CCTV or mobile phones), most of my fiction has a contemporary setting and is more likely to be inspired by my own experiences than someone else's story. Never say, never though. My paternal grandparents lived quite the life, so their adventures could offer a rich seam for fictionalisation at some point...
Sounds intriguing! Must admit, I didn’t set out to write a historical. I was mulling over a closer to home setting. By chance I saw some 1950s photos online which highlighted how prosperous our town used to be with all the factories etc. As soon as I thought to include Nairns, I thought of all the couples who must’ve met there and then I had my story … as it turned out, my own parents Meet Cute. 🥰 I enjoyed trying something a bit different and only glad it payed off! To be the lead story with a brilliant illustration was the icing on the cake 🥰
AFTERNOTE: I guess I may have been clearer haha. My mum’s birthday was 15th July, my parents wedding anniversary was also 15th July, I found out about my short story publication and had it in my hands on 15th July. The story is a fictionalised account of my parents Meet Cute! I was pretty emotional - guess the universe moves in mysterious ways. 🥰