Wish You Were Here was born from exploring grief, loss, and the questions we ask when someone we love is gone. While the story is fantasy, the emotions behind it are very real. Sharing something so personal can be intimidating because readers are seeing a part of you, even when it's wrapped in fiction. Looking back, I'm glad I wrote it. If it helps even one person feel a little less alone, then it was worth taking that risk.
On Writing : Writing What Feels Too Personal by Joyce Isaacson
Writing What Feels Too Personal
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This is powerful, Joyce. Writing from real emotions always resonates deeper with readers. How did you balance the fantasy elements with the personal grief in the story?
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Thank you, Wahab. I appreciate that. For me, the fantasy was never there to overshadow the grief—it was there to explore it. Creating an unexpected version of Heaven gave me a way to ask questions about loss, friendship, redemption, and hope that would have been much harder to tell in a purely realistic setting. The emotions are grounded in real experiences, while the fantasy allowed me to explore those emotions on a much larger canvas.
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I feel this so much, and admittedly it’s why I’m incredibly nervous at the idea of sharing my first screenplay Marisol and Mezzaluna. Yes, it’s a pretty whimsical story with heavy doses of surrealism but the psychological aspect means I couldn’t not at least touch on mental illness. So as a result it’s quite personal and vulnerable ^^;
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My book, Access Denied was also borne from loss and what is called a "living bereavement". It's non-fiction and extremely personal - some have said it's a bit too personal in parts, but it needed to be honest to convey the emotional turmoil I was going through. I've been told by at least two people who read it that it saved their lives because they realised they weren't the only ones going through what I went through. Like you said, if it helps even one person feel they're not alone in the same circumstances, then it's worthwhile. Access Denied by David E. Gates is available in all formats, at all good online bookstores.