The second thing to know is that the truth is the best defense. In other words: tell the truth. Your version, perhaps, but do not mess with the truth and you cannot go too far wrong. In this discussion in my class, I always then remind the writers that the truth, however, is not to be used as a blunt object. Why are you writing what you are writing? If it’s to get back at someone, it’s a rotten reason, and rarely, by the way, do those books work. Never show you manuscript to anyone but your editor, agent, and maybe a good reader who is invested in your success. No one gets to tell you what you may say.

So, all those things rolled into one mean that you write without fear or favor, but you do so without the intent to cause harm. These are the bare hack minimum rules of journalism and must be adhered to in print, on radio, online and in blogging or all we’ll have left is Fox News.

Getting back to having someone hate you for what you say. Well, it happens. My sister was not a bit happy with my first book about our mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. But she is the first to admit that it is accurate. And that is always your goal as a writer. Be accurate, be fair.
Write on.