How Much is Too Personal?
I finally got back to actually working on my book today. Rereading what I had already written for the chapter on university life, I again found myself wondering how much information is getting too personal. In writing an autobiography, I am, obviously, writing about my life, but how much do I (or should I) divulge to the reader, the public?
As a writer, I need to be personal and intimate with the reader in order to tell my story. But is some too personal to share? It is one thing to write it as I sit here alone in my office, but what happens when my story is released to the world for anyone to read? Will I regret saying too much? Will my readers feel cheated if I don’t say enough?
Although it is my autobiography, my story, I don’t live in a vacuum. Others are very much part of my life, part of my story. How much can I say about them without invading their privacy? Is using their first initial adequate anonymity? Will I need each individual to read a draft to ok what I have put on paper?
What is the litmus test here? Where do I draw the line for censoring myself?
Hi Glenda,
I find this dilemma interesting as I have often asked myself the same question in regards to my fotoblog (not exactly the same context in terms of medium but still, some of the same questions can apply).
Being surrounded by many bloggers, I am always surprised how much info some people are comfortable putting out there about themselves and their entourage. When I started my fotoblog last year, I intended it primarily to be a place to post photos about what I saw and share them with my friends and family. I quickly realised that it became rather personal, I guess breaking my hip had a big role in that as I spent a few months in rehab documenting my experience. I guess it was a way of letting my gang know how things were going and a bit of therapy at the same time. I have to say that I am sometimes surprised at how much of myself I put out there through that medium and sometimes, I feel like tearing the whole thing down but I do not because I hope it is a way of being brave.
When posting things to my fotoblog that are more than just cute puppies, graffiti or what I had for dinner (eh, what can I say), I ask myself if I will be able to live with it in a week, a month, a year or whatever. When posting stuff about other people, I usually ask first (as in warn them as I take the photos and ask if I can post), unless it is in a public setting, like a conference or something.
I am not an editor but I think that if you feel you will be revealing personal info on someone, you should probably get a release from them, if only to avoid legal hassles in the future, should they arise. Common sense will probably let you know what you need to get releases for, something that you obviously have in abundance so I am not worried about how you would choose to handle this.
Look forward to reading your book when it is published.
Cheers !
Catherine
Comment by zara — February 8, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts on the topic. Definitely an interesting issue. After thinking about it for a few more weeks, I’m no closer to an answer. Maybe that is what an editor is for? To provide some objectivity and guidance on how much information is too much?
I can imagine blogging about rehab could get rather personal and revealing. What kind of reactions did you receive? Do you have any regrets for what you did blog?
Hope your hip is fully recovered and you are dancing through life!
Comment by Glenda — February 19, 2006 @ 10:57 pm
[…] I am simply not sure if it is too personal to put out there for the world to read. I am still stumped on how much is too personal.
As I ponder that some more, I will carry on with the editing, revising and proofreading.
[…]
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