So in one corner, there’s fiction. Made up, though just as often as not, inspired by some real stuff. In the other corner, memoir. The Truth, capital T, unless specifically noted, liked “names changed to protect my ass.” But somewhere in the middle, there’s this weird subgenre called fictionalized memoir. What is it, and when do you use it?
Anita from Word Cafe says that a fictionalized memoir is a semi-autobiographical novel. She tells us that Jack Kerouac’s On The Road is a good example. Melissa of Networlding says, “From a writing perspective, the fictionalized memoir allows a writer to embrace the creative process without a disclaimer because the fiction techniques create a compelling story.” Adair of Writer’s Digest outlines why you might consider fictionalized memoir instead of memoir memoir, like “I am uncomfortable relying on my memory.” While Taylor at Lit Reactor talks about how autobiographical fiction can give the author more freedom while potentially requiring more skill to cull all but the best parts. I feel smarter already! But of course, only you can choose what’s right for you.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Jobe
PS Heather on Slide Share made a cute lil thing you should check out, too.
J. Jobe 