FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK

Dear FYSA,

I want to use experiences I have had/witnessed in my life and conversations I have been a part of in my novel, but, for example, my mother will for sure recognize herself in a character, and that is gonna get awkward. In “writing what you know,” how much should you alter in order to not offend the actual parties involved without sacrificing the nuance of why it is noteworthy to begin with?

Sincerely, Taking Notes

Dear Notes,

Ahhhh, yes. The time our brother threw up in the holy water cistern. The