That 'truth' about fiction

 

“A writer borrows a bit from here, there and everywhere, and adapts it to her own purpose.  (But) I find that the more of me I include, the more successful the book; the more readers can identify with.” – Joy Fielding

 

Born on this date in 1945 in Toronto, Canada (where she still lives), Fielding said she knew early in life that she wanted to be a writer.  Even when drawn in different directions – particularly acting – she always felt the pull back to that first love and to date has authored 32 novels -- the newest Jenny Cooper Has a Secret coming out in August.

  

“I love writing because it's the only time in my life when I feel I have complete control,” Fielding said.   “Nobody does or says anything I don't tell them to – although even this amount of control is illusory because there comes a point where the characters take over and tell you what they think they should say and do.” 

   

Fielding said she looks upon everything as a potential scene for a book, and everyone as a potential character.  While she occasionally gets ideas from magazines and newspaper articles – especially headlines – more often her ideas come from something that happens to her or someone she knows. 

 

“I don't enjoy doing a lot of research, preferring as a rule, to ‘make up my facts.’ That's why I write fiction,” she said.  “I firmly believe that if you want facts, you read non-fiction; you read fiction to discover truth.”