Compartmentalization

House Bayne -- Chapter Four, Book Two

Seven syllables, 21 letters, and no spell check needed, (believe it!) compartmentalization is an important word for writers. Compartmentalization means, to divide into sections or categories. 

Bland enough. But what I'm talking about is that divide between a writer's life and and their composition. 

I once read a book on writing, I believe it was by Sol Stein, where the author stressed, if you write fiction and are merely retelling your life story, you are writing for self and not the reader. (autobiography aside)  

I believe there is a fine line between writing for public appeal, and writing for me. Unless your story is intended for the mass-market Wal-Mart crowd, you want to balance the two.

Even more, compartmentalizing enables you to write despite outside influences. I told you once how I wrote part of my book during a tropical storm in Florida, and in even worse times. I did not let these events affect the story, unless it was a way to 'be inspired' and add a plot twist or two. A better way to illustrate; if you read the biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien or J.K. Rowling, you might find their Fantasies were nothing like their personal lives. They each had their unique influences, such as,

 Tolkien's experiences in World War I and laying in a sick bed from Mustard gas, but all in all, their stories had lives all their own.

I only say this because I often wonder how other writers do it. There are distractions, disasters, and demons to keep our lives sputtering along, and the temptation would be to write these events into the storyline. But is it a good idea? I look at world politics, and am tempted to influence my created world structure in some way, but I must resist -- or else I've written a allegory. That's my advice. Do what works for you -- happy writing.