Naturally, in the process of creating a work of fiction a great many writers draw on their own experiences, thoughts and fears.  The best stories are found within our own histories, because there is real emotion attached to them, and where there is real emotion a naked honesty is often found.

But writing about our own experiences can be unsettling, for both the writer and the people closest to them.  When I reflect on my own life, there are all sorts of events I could write out that would make great reading – but I’m not sure I really want to share them with the rest of the world, and I fear I’d lose a few valued friendships in the process.

So, how do you draw upon your rich and varied experiences without your work becoming semi-autobiographical?  The simple words, “What if . . . ?” can transform your fictional world, freeing you creatively to draw upon your own life without directly writing about it.

To give an example, let’s pretend that in my real life, I’m a 25 year old woman (alas, I’m not), with one young child, a gregarious, useless husband and a part-time job in the library services.  Well, my life could already make for a good start to a story.  But I don’t want to write about me.  What if my character has three children?  That would certainly make life more exhausting, perhaps more rewarding, perhaps more chaotic than my own?  What if she works in a book shop?  Well, I could easily draw on my experiences in the library, and my knowledge of books to imagine that world.  What if she’s older than I am, say, 35?  Could I pull it off?  What if the husband isn’t useless, but the wife is?  What if he’s a shy, nervous character?  What if my main character is actually the husband . . . ?

Already there’s the little spark of a new world to imagine, one which draws from a real life, and yet is suddenly quite far removed from that life.  Applying the “What if?” to your writing can not only kick-start a new project, but it can also serve to keep the story going at an exciting pace, allowing your fictional character to unfold as a fully-formed, complex individual.  Now, whilst the essence of your own experiences might run right through the story like a backbone, the insecurity of portraying yourself or another living person evaporates, and you can simply write.  The character is yours, and you can take it wherever you want to.

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