TwoCents | THE WRITER'S DILEMMA - by Emetekefe Akpovwovwo

As a writer, one of the many struggles we face is the perception that our creative work is a reflection of our personal lives or the lives of those around us. Friends and family might think we are throwing shades at them, spilling their secrets, or lacking decorum. Phew! It can be amusing and frustrating because often, we start writing without anyone in mind, and then boom! the story begins to resemble the life of someone we know. I once heard someone say "Never tell your friend who works as a radio presenter or writer your story because one day when they run out of ideas on what to talk about on air or write about, your story becomes their fallback." I really don’t think this is true. It is a delicate balance. We don’t want our friends to think we are talking about them, but sometimes, real-life events naturally inspire our writing. It is not about being rude or indiscreet; it is about capturing the essence of human experiences. Unfortunately, the line between fiction and reality can blur, leading to misunderstandings. I sometimes take pride in how intimately my writing reflects human experiences because it draws my audience in, even when they struggle to distinguish between fact and fiction. For instance, when I shared my latest piece, “A Tale of Sugar Ants – My Nightmare,” some readers asked if it was based on real events because it felt so vivid and authentic. What is interesting is how some people assume every piece of writing is about them. This is partly due to the trend of oversharing on social media, where people vent their personal issues publicly. For instance, posts like “I will find a person better than you. Watch this space” on your WhatsApp status just because you had an altercation with your partner and it ended in a breakup, make it easy for readers to connect fictional narratives with real-life drama.  We need to draw the line between these people and professional writers. Our mood often influences our writing, and that is perfectly natural. But when it comes to writing about the private lives of friends or family, I take a different approach. I seek their permission because I think it is crucial to maintain a balance between creativity and respect for others’ privacy. It is a simple yet effective way to respect their privacy while staying true to my craft. Now that this off my chest, let me focus on some other tasks for today. By the way, it would be nice to know your thoughts on this. I love feedbacks. Please, leave a comment.

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