Hello local NaNoMo writers. I hope everyone is getting ready for the big challenge. There's so much going on with me right now, I'm probably crazy for even trying this... but I'm determined to try my best to meet the challenge. I'd appreciate anyone's insight to some of the questions in the back of my head.
Here is the synopsis of my novel for background:
This will be a historical fiction piece about two teenagers and several of their siblings leaving Finland in the late 1800s to make a new start in America, many taking on the hard work in the copper and iron ore mines in the midwest. The main story line is about Jooseppi (male- name may change) and Kalle (female -name may change) who did not know each other growing up in the same small-town area of Finland, but each came to the same conclusion that they had to leave thei famine-ravaged and Russian opressed homeland in order to help their families have a better life. The plot follows the two teens as they arrive in America, settle in the same small midwest town, marry, and build a family of their own in the new country. But events such as Finland's declaration of independence from Russia and the world wars, makes them constantly wonder if they should return to their homeland or continue raising their family in America.
My issue is this... the central characters in this story are my great-grandparents (although their names were not Jooseppi or Kalle). The plot I'm envisioning is tied very much around events in their lives and what I have learned about my family through genealogy research. Unfortunately, there are a lot of "holes" in my family research and missing dates/facts... but even worse, there is only 1 surviving member of their children now experiencing early stages of dementia... so there's few people to get information from anymore.
Completing this challenge is more of a way for me to imagine what life was like for my ancestors and pull together a lot of details and facts, giving life to them. The last thing I want though is to be disrespectful to my family and cause problems for what is meant to be a FICTIONAL account, losely based on their lives. Does anyone have any words of advice before I get started to help minimize any issues this may create (aside from changing the names and places to something different than the facts)?
Any insight or advice is very much appreciated!
Thank you,
pjhall33764
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23,968 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 12 56
I think the best way to prevent problems is to be up front with your family members in advance. Tell them what you're writing and why. Explain the reasons you've given us for doing this and writing this and tell them that you'll respect any opinions they can give you. Let them know that you find the story of their meeting and journeys so fascinating that it's inspired you to write a story incorporating what information you know was factual about them and to integrate some of your own ideas into it as well. I'm sure if you are honest and up front about it before you start writing, you'll find that there's not as much opposition as you might believe.
Good luck!
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"Happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat." ~ Notting Hill
1,174 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 09 19
Change names, change details, morph the lives of two people together...and be honest, but don't be slanderous.
For instance, Tim Dorsey had a character in one of his books who was a Tampa Radio DJ who went by "Steve the Hateful Piece of ****" I'll give you one guess as to who that's based on. Nor could he do much about it.
One of my characters is based off a college professor. I've taken out most of this guy's obsessive-compulsive behavior, changed his name and title, and I'm also not mentioning the how-he-didn't-get-fired-no-one-knows comments he made from time to time. However, if someone knew him, and knew how I got along with him, they'd be able to figure it out.
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~Aquamarine~
Hopelessly lost in my own world, and
Out of step marching to my own drummer.
50,235 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 10 51
This sounds like such a wonderful story idea! I think that as long as you are not calling it a biography, you are not locked in to keeping it entirely factual. Perhaps you could preface it with something like "Inspired in part by..." Or "A fictionalized account based on the lives of...", and that would make the statement that not all the events in the story actually occured, or did not occur exactly the way they are written. I hope that you find a way to do this that feels comfortable for you, because it sounds like a wonderful story that really deserves be told! My Grandparents emmigrated from Germany and Norway (respectively) and I have such admiraiton and respect for their courage and determination. I think your Great-Grandparents would be honored and proud to have their story told by you, and thier memory kept alive in your novel.
Good luck!
0 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 04 43
Thanks everyone! This is very helpful feedback. Some competing priorities have come up that I'm not sure I'm able to actively participate in NaNoWriMo this year. On the bright side I'm convinced that my concept is a good one and I will write that novel sooner than later. Thanks again!