Tackling the difficult subjects

[John Dean]

One of the things that fascinates me is the way that writers tackle difficult subjects.

There are various reasons for embracing tough subjects, one of which is, of course, that difficult subjects make for dramatic stories.

A story about two people getting on really well can tend to be a touch on the boring side, even in a romance. Introduce something spiky into the narrative and your story comes alive.

Another reason writers tackle tough subjects is because their words can have an effect on those who read them, that they can, in some small way, challenge the way people view the world.

It is not the same for every writer - some stories are there purely to entertain, to make the reader laugh, to make the reader smile, without challenging them at all.

But for those who do tackle difficult subjects, there is one rule above all: keep it real. It makes sense to write about what you know. If you have not got that experience, research you subject before you start writing.

Although I write works of fiction, each one draws on at least one real-life experience.