Fledgling writer wants past to stay private

DEAR HARRIETTE: As an aspiring writer, I often wonder how one truly finds their voice in writing. I had a shaky childhood where I was exposed to alcohol and drug abuse, parental cheating issues and overall poverty. I am in a better place now, but every now and then, when the topic of the past is being discussed, I find myself crying randomly. Do writers need to be completely transparent about their own personal stories? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to do that.