Am I the only one who felt wrong using a friend's secret for a writing prompt?

In my writing group, we got a prompt about hidden truths. I wrote a story based on my friend's private struggle, and it sits weird with me. How do you deal with prompts that use real people's lives?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_lane191mo ago

That "private struggle" detail is what makes it feel off. Using a friend's real secret turns their pain into your material, which isn't fair. Changing the details completely would let you write honestly without the guilt.

paulw661mo agoMost Upvoted

Exactly! You nailed it, @jade_lane19.

andrew_kelly26d ago

Totally agree with @jade_lane19. Using a friend's real secret just feels wrong. Change the details and keep the feeling, you know?