How To Fictionalize Your Family—L. Kappel
Writing about your family would never be without minefields, and emotions are very capable of doing the greatest damage. This could be an act of cleansing for you, but for whom are you writing? We have all experienced the divides in families that can become sink holes around death. Examine your motivation; a tell-all, even a fictionalized version, can create unrepairable damage. The fictionalization of your family events is not a memoir or a historical account.
Fiction can and should create discomfort, but words can cut like knives. It is possible you may touch on a reader’s experience so a fast pace of events will keep the reader engaged. As you draw readers into your family dynamics, the plot should create a bonding, where the reader cannot wait to pick up your book. Remember to include the emotional journey, embracing love and empathy but using startling revelations can be used to wake the plot up! A strong fictional plot will strengthen your motive for authoring the story. The protagonist is just that, not you! Your personal feelings could cloud the characters, then you have left no room for the reader’s imagination. As the plot develops, create ‘Red Herrings,’ as discussed in a previous blog. These will involve the reader working with the plot. Falsely accused family members or the death as an accident are just some examples that continue to keep the reader focused. Keep your eye on the fact you want your story to move through to a conclusion that is satisfying to the reader.
I do advocate if your family life was so damaging that intervention was needed, your story should be told; “truth can be stranger than fiction!” As we have seen over the years, disclosure of revenge has only one ending. Although a revenge plot can have you on the edge of your seat remind family members that this is very much a work of fiction.
Talking to family members, looking for common ground, and finding those moments that may have hurt a family member will respect their wishes to be included or not. Remember that a family has grown with its own norms, so no matter what we may think of those norms, the story should flow and find a way to let the reader judge the fictional family members in the story. Have your characters’ names assigned before you start the story. This enables you to detach and can emphasize characteristics that may drive the story.
I will use my family as an example of the journey of knowing absolutely nothing about one of your parents.
My elderly father passed away several years ago and my sister promised she would do research once she retired. We had a full life; there were six children, and my mother’s family had twelve children. My mother had fictionalized my father’s background for many years, yet in those stories there were grains of truth.
· Dropped off at an orphanage, age two, in England.
· Kidnapped at age five by the woman who dropped him off, claiming to be his mother.
· Returned to the orphanage a year later.
· This woman did love my father. She was a madame, yes truth, and had falsified his birth certificate.
Through my sister’s devoted research we found his real mother, her story even more interesting.
The journey to find Dad’s father was fraught with plot twists. He was a Canadian soldier posted to England, married and had a child.
You can well imagine the shock when his great, great grandson was located by a DNA connection. This was emotional because this completed the missing half of my siblings and my family tree.
Most of my mother’s side of the family, that now remain are elderly and loved my dad and the remaining family on my dad’s side are regretful of what what he went through but are delighted we found them.
Yes, I will write a fictionalized version of my father’s story. That small boy who lined up every Sunday for adoption viewings, never adopted, is heart breaking.
My motive is the strength of the human condition that will drive this fictional account, but, as I love a good mystery, a murder or two could occur to move the investigation to its conclusion.