Writing biographical pieces without your subjects’ knowledge
and permission can be a precarious thing. You can never be certain beforehand whether
your subjects would approve or disapprove, or like or dislike what you say
about them. There’s potential for ruptured relationships . . . hmm, or even a
lawsuit.An author may be somewhat visionary and might extrapolate future outcomes based on trends and data, but is hardly a seer per se. This introduces another aspect of biographical writing that can be rather unsettling for the author.
Have you ever written about a contemporary individual in
positive, affirmative terms, but later felt let down, disappointed, or more
than a little peeved, when the person later fell far short of the glowing word portrait
you’d painted?
I’ve had that experience—but rarely, and have more often
been tremendously encouraged to find otherwise. A recent case was of a trucker
I met and conversed with, in 2009 at a Christian retreat.
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| Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org |
Shortly after, I wrote a column article of the encounter, in
which I shared some of the personal testimony that the fellow recounted to me
of his healing and how he came to Christ. I didn’t use his name—I’d forgotten
it anyway—and didn’t seek his permission. In February 2010 I posted an edition
of that piece on this blog, entitled, ‘Prophets’
– of a Sort.
In 2014 I included a version of that story in the book,
“Raise Your Gaze . . . Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart.” I’d occasionally
wonder whether the man was still alive and whether he was still mobile (prior
to his healing he had severe back trouble and had lived with unrelenting pain).
The other matter of wondering concern was whether he had
continued growing in his Christian walk of faith and trust in Jesus.
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| Courtesy: anglicansablaze.blogspot.com |
Recently I saw him again and reintroduced myself. Now
retired from trucking, he still loves to meet with His Christian brothers and
sisters and sing and praise the Lord at his church. His back is still doing
just fine. Although unable to drive now, since he suffers from macular
degeneration, he cheerfully looks to God for healing of that condition. I'm thrilled that he is still "pressing on the upward way."
It’s understandable that writers who create fictional
characters and the ‘lives’ they ‘live’ can feel a relational connection with
them, and some even call them their babies or their kids. That’s different for biographers. If remaining true to the character of the individuals about whom they write and whose stories (or portions thereof that) they tell, it’s different. Biographers neither create the characters nor the circumstances in which they live their lives.
In some instances when writing a living person’s story I may begin the process already having a personal relationship with the individual. That may deepen during the process of working through the elements based on the information available, but the individual is neither my baby nor my creation, although I may rightfully regard the work produced as such.
Although I’ve had cause to grieve when learning that one of
my subjects has followed a course that casts
a shadow over the earlier portrait, my recent encounter with the former
trucker encourages me to not give up on painting word pictures featuring people’s
real life-experiences.
He continues along the course of life that raised my gaze to
give thanks to God for His gracious working in the man’s life. Redemption in
action—gaze-raising joy. And that's something worth writing about!
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Peter's second book is a compilation of inspirational articles on a variety of themes from his weekly column. These are interspersed with brief expressions intended to encourage. Ebook edition is now available through Amazon.
ISBN: 978-0-9920074-2-3 (Angel Hope Publishing)
Peter's first book: “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing). Finalist – Word Alive Press. ISBN: 1897373-21-X. The book has found a place in various settings with a readership ranging from kids to senior adults.Black's inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate (of Southwestern Ontario). His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario.
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