Writing Group Problem

The problem I have is that you may be accrediting the writer with the same motives as her fictional character.
This would therefore place all authors of horror, murder, war and crime fiction with the same motivation.
It's a tricky one, and only the author will know her true motivation, and why she chose that name.
Similarly with spanking fiction. the fact that I write about mature women being subjected to fairly severe judicial CP, doesn't mean that I agree with it in the real world as opposed to the fantasy world or that I would or could inflict it . I don't and only condone relatively mild or moderate and completely consensual CP in the real world.
It's a complex problem and up to the group to sort it out. If it disturbs you then don't shy away from asking the writer questions. It is probably a sensible idea that the group should only use fictional names

Mostly, what Jiminism said.

I must be a bit dense, because I don't get it. Only use fictional names? What are the fictional names one is allowed to use? Sherlock Holmes? Miss Haverstam? Fred Flintstone? Or, do you mean not to use the real first name of someone in the writing group? Or, maybe it is ok to use the name of someone in the writing group as long as you like them, and are writing something nice? Seems like a lot of stifling rules for "creative" writing.

For many writers, picking a character name is very, very important and meaningful. It also can be very time consuming, to pick the one you are completely happy with, one that means something important to you, and resonates with prospective readers. It is not as if you take your finger, spin it around, and choose a name from the phone book.

One of Kate Atkinson's characters in Emotionally Weird says "I've always wanted to know what creative writing really is. And does it have an opposite?" Limiting writers to certain subjects, certain character names seems to be just that: the opposite.

If I were in this writing group, I think I would find this situation fascinating, and mine it for my own writing. As I said in an earlier post, "Conflict is the gas of fiction." REAL conflict is an even better motivator for passionate writing.

I can understand writing group members being uncomfortable, but and excuse me if i am seeing this wrongly but what does the guy supposedly being portrayed say about this, you state he can be provocative, which suggests he is not the shy retiring type who would stay quiet over such a matter.

You state one of the members collared you to say this was a ongoing feud, it might well be, but it might well be not, and the one person collaring you might have their own 'agenda' i am not suggesting they do, it is just a consideration. I just think that if and i think it is a big if, you are going to be the lone head put above the parapet, then be damned sure of all the facts.

If the only connection is just the first name, then that is tenuous evidence.

I presume that giving her a good spanking to see if that improves things is not an option! More seriously, I would suggest taking her to one side to quietly suggest that maybe she should change the character's name as 'some people' (not you of course) might 'mistakenly' think she was referring to the other member of the group. A bit of tact is obviously required, but you have a good awareness of the problem so I think you should be able to manage okay. One other point that struck me was: we do not know what he did (if anything) to inspire such a drastic (albeit virtual) revenge. Maybe he has been racially or sexually abusing her and her story is a cry for help. Again tact would be required to tease this out, without putting ideas in her head. However, it is difficult to offer advice without knowing the people involved.

To me, and please remember I do not belong to the group, this seems to be a case of everyone should stick to writing the story and quit trying to figure out the whys and wherefores of why others write their part of any story. It really is not anyone's business to comment on another person's writing in public IMHO.

This is most worrying I find myself agreeing with both SNM and Bogiephil!! Mind you in the interests of political correctness you might phrase it a little more diplomatically!

Theoretically a brilliant idea!

I'm sure you find yourself a bit bemused, not to say nonplussed, under the circumstances. Nevertheless, I appreciate the support, however qualified it may be. However, phrasing things diplomatically isn't one of my strong suits and I make no pretense towards nuanced or subtle commentary. I'm more of a say what you mean and mean what you say kind of guy (unless it's obviously tongue-in-cheek). More of an axe than a scalpel, you might say...

I think I'd like to be in that class. As a group, do you folks recite your stories or ever go out for a beer afterward? I imagine that as small talk I might mention to her that it would seem more dramatic if she were to sew his penis in his mouth and nail his testicles to the wall. Yes, putting that in slang would sound much better too. Afterward, once she had lightened up, I would ask her whether she saw the look on whatshisnames face and see if she might enlighten me further. Just a thought.

A scalpel has its uses! But as you say don't beat about the bush tell her she is out of order.