Comments on: Family Involvement in writing; Reluctant, Conscripted or Volunteered?

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:34:37 +0000

In reply to Bette Isacoff. Dear Bette, Sometimes the investment in books within a family, takes a little while. Congrats on your daughter's book.

By: Bette Isacoff

Bette Isacoff — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:22:06 +0000

My daughter showed little-to-no interest in my writing when she was in high school. Then she went off to England for “a semester of college.” That turned into permanent resettlement in the UK, where she published a self-illustrated children’s book! You just never know.

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:42:15 +0000

In reply to Suzanne Brazil. Suzanne, Thanks for your comments as a fellow writer including family anecdotes. It's a fine line between diplomacy and embarrassment.Currently I'm writing my memoir 'Let Hippos Eat Cake, Being a Children's Author 'or Not?' and it's a technical challenge to get the tone right but also acknowledge previous inspiration for now popular stories

By: Suzanne Brazil

Suzanne Brazil — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:09:16 +0000

Hazel, what great insights. Your bit on adolescents rings true – waving at them in public can ruin their entire year. I’ve taken to asking my now adult “kids” if they mind if I include a certain incident or memory and they almost always say yes.

It sounds like you have such wonderful support and what a treat to have your entire family in on the business of your books!

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 01:05:02 +0000

In reply to Jo Carroll. I agree with Jo that family relationships should be protected. But there's a difference between re-telling and dramatising a humorous situation, and the 'revenge' motive of a writer using the literary terrorism of presenting only the personal interpretation with the aim of destruction rather than compassionate understanding. In my 'Authorperneurship;the Business of Creativity' I added a last minute chapter on 'Therapy Writing' where the value lies in exploring traumatic events, but only with the aim of understanding NOT publication. That can be valid writing, but only for self. (www.hazeledwards.com)

By: Jo Carroll

Jo Carroll — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 07:48:10 +0000

I saw an interview with Hanif Kureishi in which he saw no problem in plundering family angst – including his divorce. He knew it would impact on his ex-wife and his children, but shrugged it off – he’s a writer, what did they expect.

I disagree with him – my daughters are precious and wonderful, and I’d never write anything if I thought it would hurt their feelings. Even though one of them reads everything for me and is my severest critic!

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:20:45 +0000

Yes, it’s always a challenge when writing ‘close to home’. But in the ‘Hidden Diffability’ book, the realism of the casestudies and the strategies suggested is what has been so helpful for many families.

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 09:58:21 +0000

In reply to Sherryl. Concentrated writing is a great discipline, and we've all been frustrated at certain periods in our lives by the lack of time, but even quick notes are progress.

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 09:56:41 +0000

Adventure memoirs are also a kind of family history.

By: Hazel Edwards

Hazel Edwards — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 09:55:50 +0000

In reply to Pauline Luke. Tackling a brief memoir next.