How much of
what we experience do we have a right to share?
Or to put it another way–
I’ll keep your
secret. Unless it’s funny. Or profound.
Or quirky. Or sad. If the personal revelation you share calls
forth any of those aforementioned emotions?
Well, then, sooner or later, you’ll probably see a twisted version of
the tale in something I write.
For me, this
creates the biggest challenge when it concerns one particular person in my
life. See this person is funny and
profound and quirky and, sometimes, sad.
And he has been very clear that he does not want me to ever use anything
he’s said in anything I write. Which,
because I love and respect him, I agree to do.
But, I’m here to tell you, it just about kills me. Just yesterday he made the funniest
observation I’ve heard in years.
Which I’m
not going to share with you.
Do you think
God will give me extra credit for keeping this confidence? You writers out there, how do you handle it
when a person with whom you share an experience is adamant about not wanting
those insights or feelings shared on the written page?
That's a tough one for us writers, Pam, and I admire you for keeping your word. (Doesn't surprise me one bit though.)
ReplyDeleteDo you know how long most women keep a secret? An average of 32 minutes.
But you can tell me. I won't tell a soul. :)
Men probably do keep a secret longer than women. But I maintain it doesn't count because they weren't paying attention and didn't hear the revelation to begin with.
DeleteAnd we're not really talkers, unless it's about sports or female anatomy!
Delete