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Marie A. Rebelle's avatar

I agree, May. Fictionalizing what happened to us is a good way to make sense of it, to work through it and maybe even set that first step to healing. Also, it makes others out there know they are not alone. I'm sorry you had to go through this!

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May More's avatar

exactly which is why i do not understand why fiction in general is so undervalued

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Katherine Earle, Author's avatar

Lovely to 'see' you here May and to read your work on Substack!

Thanks for this enlightening story and your honesty in revealing its source and the emotions that prompted it.

We really do write our best work when our 'emotional heart' infuses it!

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May More's avatar

Good to see u too! I have been here a bit over a year but was more on medium - but when they started “actin up” I made substack my priority - not medium

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A. Njoto's avatar

I'm not familiar if fictionalised is a genre on its own or not. but I did a few attempts on writing fiction and found out the story to be too close to my reality. so I put them aside. It was scary... I hope this method caters for your healing need well 🫶 An amazing story through and through

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Chingmay Anaïs Jo's avatar

Very poignant narration. May, you know that suicide essay I wrote had a fictionalized draft when I wrote it in high school. I didn’t want people to know that I was the victim. Taking myself out freed me, and it made me think more holistically about the situation I was in. I am glad that you’ve been healed. ❤️

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May More's avatar

Thats exactly it - like becoming an actor in your own life - removing yourself - i am so glad it works well for u too. That part of my life I certainly have healed and forgiven

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Nevena Pascaleva's avatar

That's so sad.... 😢

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Debdutta Pal's avatar

Love what you said about freeing yourself. Sometimes the voices linger - like they're frozen in time but also happening right now. Impactful, heartbreaking, story.

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May More's avatar

yes u are so right about happening now - a frozen moment

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Mark Armstrong's avatar

Very powerful, May, and I'm so sorry you were subjected to that kind of abuse as a kid-- inexcusable. Great example of how just surviving childhood gives us enough material (story ideas) for a lifetime.

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May More's avatar

Good to see u - yep I suppose we should be thankful LOL

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Deirdre's avatar

I like the idea of fictionalised stories May. Yours resonates very well. I can relate to how others have tried to control me too, and I've often felt boxed in. I still do even now, and can only say I am in the process of both recognising this is real and freeing myself from it. The same kind of thing - controlling people don't like us to shine too much, it shows them up, but they're really showing themselves up anyway, as they don't shine so bright.

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May More's avatar

Hey Deirdre glad u relate to this idea - I would say about 25% of stories that I out as fiction are actually fictionalized. And yes that - get back in your box before you outshine me - thing! lol

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Deirdre's avatar

Thanks May, I tried to do this once on Medium with a story, making it fictionalized. I’d read some of your stories on Medium, which were very good and gave me the idea. Yes, the ‘get back in your box’, absolutely definitely exists!

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