Writers and Personal experiences

   

  Most writers might probably write from personal experiences but might add a little touch of fiction. Many suspected writers have gotten their stories this way.  Here is a list of ten writers who might have or have gotten their stories from personal experiences. 

1.  Tayari Jones:  In her touching story , Leaving Atlanta Tayari explores the world of kids in a dangerous environment. Kids are getting missing ,and killed, dead bodies are springng up and parents are getting extra paranoid ,so are the kids. The kids are scared ,and the  patterns in which they live are changing. There is a character ,who goes by the name Tayari Jones in the book. And the book was set in real times back in the late 70s when kids were getting killed. Tayari admits herself, "these pages are based on a string of ghastly murders that began in the summer of 1979, when the bodies of fourteen-year-old Edward Smith and thirteen-year-old Alfred Adams were discovered in Atlanta, beginning the official investigation of what became known as “The Atlanta Child Murders.” Over the course of the next two years, at least twenty more African American children were murdered." 

There were several other child killings too.

2.  Oyinkan Britewhaite: in her book my sister the serial killer ,  the features , her character, Korede ,describes herself somewhat looks like her. . Although I think Oyinkan is beautiful. Now this is just a theory. And if it was correct ,it doesn't mean her sister is a serial killer. 

3.  Chimanmada Ngozi Adiche: in her debut novel ,Purple Hibiscus, The character, Amaka seems more like Adiche. Amaka is strong willed and belivestin her cultural heritage. Amaka refused to  take a "foreign name" upon baptism like Mary and the likes. In the book Amaka argues that native names can glorify God too. Also in her book ,Americanah , Adiche might have experienced personally or not  most of what Ifemelu mostly wrote about and Ifemelu's day in secondary school.

   

    

4.  Chigozie Obioma: in his book the fishermen , Chigozie explores the life of four igbo brothers living in Akure. Chigozie grew up in Akure, and maybe, just maybe some little part of the story was experienced by him , or a neighbour.

5. Sam Selvon: in his  Lonely Londoners , Sam explores the lives of Trinidad and Tobago immigrants as well as Jamaicans and other African immigrants. Sam lived in London. Some of the stories in the book might have been true stories.  The Lonely Londoner is a very hilarious book to read by the way.

  It is totally safe to turn your personal experiences into fictitious stories. Most authors have done that. Are you writing a story from scratch based on a personal experience? Here are safeguard tips:

1.  Never let too much out. Don't use obvious names, obvious descriptions and obvious locations. 
2. Give , your little distinctions from the real life people you can also choose to add a large distinction. You might choose to not at all.
3.  Does your story have a lesson? Or a significant meaning to you and those who read it?  This question should be in your mind as you string your words together, into paragraphs, pages ,chapters and then a while bestselling book. 
4. Seek permission to use names and characters.
5. Shorten the time frame.
6. Reduce your characters and live the more significant ones in the story.
7. Use strong characters.
8. Use a unique dialogue progression.

    Good luck ;-) 

        Bookish Sadie