The World is Full of Wondrous Things

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I’ve retired, and have been thinking of fictionalising some aspects of my earlier life for possible serialisation in a certain provincial newspaper.

But what do I do about my significant other?

By her standards, my earlier behaviour – the bits I want to use as a base for my fiction - was wrong.

There is already a lack of anything meaningful between us. We co-exist mostly because we have to. Our financial situation dictates it.

My as yet unwritten story finished twenty-five years before I met her.

What I want to write about would be based on the ten years that I was involved with a woman married to someone else. She incidentally is now deceased.

I’ll possibly be in deep excrement when the present significant other reads my story. I already know she disapproves of what we did, but it is never discussed.

So do I forget about the one writing topic about which I truly have some passion, just to keep the peace at home, or do I say to hell with her? I really don’t know what to do.

Don’t say that it may never happen, that for example my writing may not be good enough to be accepted; I know how to write publishable fiction.

And please don’t suggest seeking publication elsewhere.

I don't have any advice - just empathy. I don't have that exact same story but I hold back writing certain stories (based on experience or observation) because I don't want to cause friction within my family or network of friends and co-workers.

The way I see it, you have two choices:

1. Damn the torpedos - write the story!

2. Don't write it, don't think about, don't speak about it, and definintely don't sneak around and write it. Bury it with the heroine of the story.

Ah, the sweet, tortured life of a writer...