By
Lisabet Sarai
“Is
it a true story?”
When
a reader asks an author this question, she usually means, “Is this
autobiographical? Did this really happen to you?”
When
it comes to my tales, I can answer yes in a surprising (or possibly
shocking) number of cases. Yes, I did drive topless in a sports car
along Mulholland Drive, as Ruby does in Nasty
Business.
Yes, I was fucked with the wooden finial unscrewed from a bedpost,
like Kate in Raw
Silk.
Yes, I got up on stage to dance with the go-go girls in 1980’s
Bangkok, though my costume was somewhat less revealing than my
heroine’s. Gregory’s emails to Kate quote word for word from the
letters my master sent me during his long-distance seduction. The sex
clubs and orgies I describe in Incognito
borrow heavily from my experiences in New York and Amsterdam.
The
settings of my stories, especially, are true. My characters walk the
streets I’ve walked myself. They live in apartments I rented. They
shop where I shopped. When they travel, they visit the same
attractions and eat the same food.
However,
even when I create stories that deviate from my personal experience,
I work to make them “true”, in the sense of “genuine”. As
I’ve matured as an author, I have moved further away from
autobiography. At the same time, I’ve learned to create more
complex, nuanced and plausible characters. Ironically, these
characters are more true than my early heroines, who tended to be
somewhat shallow fantasy versions of myself.
Over
the last few years, I’ve gotten better at allowing characters to
speak for themselves. Rather than consciously “designing” them
beforehand, I set my protagonists (and my villains) free to act and
react as the book unfolds. If I am successful, these characters
acquire a sort of organic quality, a consistency and depth. If I told
you these characters were based on actual people in my past life,
you’d probably believe me.
There’s
another kind of truth in some of the stories that are closest to my
heart—the
truth of what might have been. Quite a few of my shorter tales are
set in an alternative reality in which I did not split up with my
master, but instead made a life with him. I’ve imagined, again and
again, the trials and joys of living in a committed D/s relationship.
In these stories, I can express the emotions I’ve mostly had to
stifle in real life. I can also consider the difficulties involved in
such a relationship, as it is tested by time, external circumstances
and the inevitability of imperfectly aligned desires.
In
fact, I’ve spent so much time in this parallel universe that
sometimes I forget it doesn’t exist. I smile when I think about
that long-ago kinky trip to Rocky’s Ace Hardware. I remember the
time I came from just a spanking, without any sexual stimulation. I
recall, with queasy excitement, the night my master cut his initials
into my flesh. These incidents are as real to me as yesterday’s
news—more
so, really, because I care more about them than about politicians and
movie stars.
I’ve
shared some of these visions here at the Grip, so I think you’ll
recognize what I am talking about. My post from the last topic cycle
is a perfect example.
This
vignette, like much of the BDSM I write, is fueled by fantasy and
wishful thinking. Still, it bowls me over whenever I re-read it.
Maybe I am flattering myself, but I suspect most readers will sense
the depth and power of the feelings in that piece. It’s totally
fictional. Yet every word is true.
... Rather than consciously “designing” them beforehand, I set my protagonists (and my villains) free to act and react as the book unfolds. If I am successful, these characters acquire a sort of organic quality, a consistency and depth. ...
ReplyDeleteI would add that a sense of spontaneity can be effected with that 'pantser' kind of technique. Rather than a planned character without his/her own leeway.
I definitely agree. I've had to learn to be a "pantser"--to release control. It doesn't always pan out, but when it does, the results can be impressive.
DeleteEven for short stories (well, that's pretty much all I've written, so far) I just start with a spark of who the characters are, and let my subconscious, or serendipitous bits of reading, or coincidental news, click into place to make, I hope, a layered whole. Definitely pantsering, I suppose, although areas other than the pants do a good share of the work.
Delete" areas other than the pants do a good share of the work"
DeleteGreat line, Sacchi!
I was hoping someone would appreciate that!
DeleteI'm always confused by the dogmatic opposition of plotting and inventing as you go. In my opinion, most writers end up working their way toward a balance of these elements. It's totally possible to make plans and also give characters organic leeway. Can't resist making this point because the plotter vs pantser thing is one of those debates that I think creates a polarization that isn't very useful.
DeleteHeh. This is a great description of the writing process, Lisabet and Sacchi. (And obviously, not every writer follows the same process.)
ReplyDeleteI hate questions about how much of a narrative is "true," not because I'm unwilling to give away Too Much Information (as writers tend to do), but because everyone's life includes other people. Changing the details not only makes for a more coherent story, in many cases, it can also prevent hard feelings and accusations that you got it all wrong.
What I find interesting is the fact that after 18 years publishing (and a lifetime of writing), my writing process continues to change. I've also noticed that the process varies somewhat depending on the story/book.
DeleteI've rarely imported an entire person wholesale as a character, for the reasons you cite. Although very few of the people from my past know about my writing personna anyway...
"It’s totally fictional. Yet every word is true."
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous line, and an awesome intro to the topic. I really appreciate the way you run through various types of truth here, and how they work their way into one's writing. I have a very similar experience, though I don't think I've articulated it this well before! :)
Thank you ;^)
Delete