Do You Assume First-Person Writing is True?

As a writer, I've always enjoyed writing in the first-person more than third-person. (I bent over to tie my shoe, rather than she bent over to tie her shoe). I find that telling the story from the point of view of the protagonist allows me to use my "voice" to tell the story in a more entertaining way.

However, I've also noticed a trend: People tend to assume that everything written in the first person is true! Even professionals in the industry make comments, like the critique on a short story I recently submitted, "I'm not sure whether this is fiction or not, but it certainly is appropriate for our readers..."

Etc.

I laugh to myself, as this reminds me of a seminar I attended at last year's Backspace Writer's Conference. The author, who was speaking about techniques when writing erotica, was frank enough to point out that, "If it's going to bother you that everyone is going to assume you really do want to have an orgy with golden retrievers, then writing erotica, at least without using a pen name, is not for you."

Looking at my book shelf, I see that some of my favorites are written in the first-person. Did I spend the whole book thinking that in fact, the author must have truly experienced everything in the novel? That it is little more than a thinly-veiled memoir? Surely not. They are telling a story and just like my own life is not nearly as interesting as those I design in my craft, neither do I think that every author who writes in the first person must truly live in a sinister town with a sneaky sheriff, murderous politicians, and firsthand knowledge of a murder.

Do you?

Tell-It-Like-It-Is Thanks

I think it's safe to say that most of us are quite thankful for many things, and when our turn comes around at the Thanksgiving table, it is likely that we'll share them aloud: food, clothing, our homes, our family and friends, good health, and so forth. Truly, I am thankful for all of those things.

But the Thanksgiving holiday brings the additional opportunity to express thanks for other things; things that we don't particularly announce at the Thanksgiving table but that I am truly thankful for every day. So, in keeping with my tell-it-like-it-is style, I've decided to share some of those things with you, my readers.

I am also deeply thankful for:
*The girl scout moms, who do most of the work with my daughters' troops, enabling moms like me to help out in a volunteer capacity, yet without having to attend Leadership Training, which involves camping outdoors in winter.
*The dancing school people, who help impart good morals to my children, who for some reason listen to them but not to me. (www.studiofivedancecompany.com)
*The weather in NC, which allows me to write this blog on November 22, wearing a tee-shirt and jeans while having all of my windows wide open, with the heat turned off.
*My cat sitter, who cat-sits even when the cats are not home.
*My ex-husband, who is taking my children on vacation to visit family, thus enabling me to enjoy not only a five-day reprieve from the kids, but also facilitating the greater procrastination of my need to drive them fourteen hours to New York myself.
*My current husband, who is so helpful and supportive that I refrain from telling people because they become green and irritated.
*My next husband... just kidding! (Thanks Mark, for laughing at my jokes too.)
*My two children and two stepchildren, all of whom rarely have meltdowns (even when I do), and none of whom are criminals in any way, shape, or form.
*My fellow writers on the Backspace Writer's Forum, who are just about the only people in life I can count on to be brutally honest at all times, yet with good intentions. (www.bksp.org)
*The fact that there is not a gigantic lit-up tree full of cat choking hazards in my living room. Yet.
*Online Christmas shopping.
*And of course, my sincere thanks to all of you who follow my blog; I appreciate your support.

Okay, I'll stop now. Because really, this list could go on and on and on.
What about you? What are some of the less obvious things you're thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Next Novel: Started!

I'm a member of a few reputable writing forums; the one I benefit from most is Backspace (www.bksp.org).

Often, I've wondered how in the world people can be writing another book when their previous one has not even been published yet. I couldn't imagine being able to concentrate on a new project when "my baby" is still awaiting representation.

Turns out, they're onto something. I've recently discovered that if I were to sit around waiting for everything to come together, I'd soon be on the funny farm... the funny farm at which e-mail is banned because the novelists are all sitting in the corner babbling to themselves about the need to check, Check, CHECK their e-mail!

Sigh. I knew it would be a long process--it was the arduousness of it that I underestimated.

Today, I surprised myself. When I opened my new project (for the umpteenth time), I finally had something to say. My fingers flew as the story began forming magically on the pages.

Ah, magic. The magic of writing. I truly hope others will soon be able to enjoy MOMNESIA, but until they do, at least I'm getting some fulfillment out of writing.

Stay tuned!