D-R-A-M-A

I remember writing in my journal about six or seven years ago about how charmed my life was and how it would be very difficult for me to find anything to write about because of my lack of drama. I blame my character. I'm not overly passionate in regards to lust or money or friends. I take a back seat to gossip. I'm just really easy going. Does this make me a boring writer? Shakespeare would not have been in my circle of friends.

However, a quick weekend trip to my home town has provided me with layers and layers of drama. Not my own, just the information that met me there.

What to do with all of these exciting pieces of inspiration? I want to write stories where characters are plotting divorces, affairs of the juiciest kind and family revenge. Just one problem. I feel bad. I feel as if I'm going against my moral fibre by telling their stories. I don't even know their entire story and I can't get their character outside of my mind. I feel as if I can only tell them in the context that they're in and am unable to separate fact from fiction. I thank my old friends for providing me with lots to write about. But how can I use their stories to tell new ones?

I am mostly distanced from these people, but I did know them at one time. I am sorry for their misfortune and there is a small amount of guilt for using their lives as inspiration for my art.

Does anyone else experience this? Do you want to write about someone but feel a twang of guilt for using someone's misery as your ammunition?