I'm writing an autobiographical novel....?

Question

I'm writing a story, about what's happened to me, and it's mostly about my perception of how other people act, and why they ct liket hey do. however, in order to do this, it's very important to my story to let the audience know everything I know, to make things clear. So, I'd end up telling some things that I probably* shoudl take to the grave. I don't do it to be mean, and no one would know who it was except for me (and the person I was talking about, if they read it). but seeing as I'm not very old, the people I'll be writing about are alive, and if they read my story they'd probably kill me, you know? so... with names changed and everything, would I get into trouble with people? I'm really afraid, but I really* want to write this story.??? What shoudl I do?

Please keep in mind not writing the story is not an option.lol

Ps. it's not my first novel.lol (but thanks :) )

Answer 1

All authors have to write from their life experience at some point or another. You can't simply pull stuff out of thin air. You'll always be writing about things that have affected you or your perception. You could always make it into a novel, and bury the biographical stuff deeper, but that's a lot more work. Writing, of course, is all about work.

You might want to remember something German author Heinrich Boll once wrote:
"Any resemblance with people living, or having lived are purely inevitable in nature".

I'm quoting from memory, and it's probably not exact, but you get the idea.

Answer 2

Don't use actual people to populate your book. Create your own characters BASED on actual people but make them a composite of several people involved in your life. Add characteristics to their personalities and character that will render them unrecognizable. Don't relate actual events as they happened, change times,places and outcomes. If you write this as it happened without using any imagination,it is an autobiography not an autobiographical novel. Many first novels are autobiographical in nature but the authors use their own life experiences to inspire them not to dictate their work. Unless you are a celebrity,have led a remarkable life or have performed something that inspires shock and awe, pure autobiography has a very limited interest to readers. Once you have written the book put it away for 5 years. If you reread it after 5 years and it doesn't embarrass the heck out of you, then give yourself a pen name and submit to a publisher. My guess is the 5 year test will solve all your present problems.

Answer 3

Why not change the details of your story so that it has the same impact, but you aren't revealing specific secrets? Change the details of the people and places. Move the locations that events took place at-- in effect, make it an autobiographical novel instead of an autobiography!

Answer 4

A few things you can do:

1. Keep the events and names real but use a pseudonym when you have it published.

2. Change the names and events slightly in the story and use your real name.

Answer 5

One I can think of off the top of my head is "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit." The little girl in the story is the author and she was writing about what happened to her family in the opening days of Hitler's rise to power.

Answer 6

It's impossible to write an autobiograhical novel, because the first is fact, and the second, by definition, is fiction.

As far as advice goes, use a very carefully, strategically-chosen pseudonym.

Answer 7

By all means write it.

Then, don't show it to anybody, and write an actual novel. You know - make stuff up. It's way more fun, both to write and to read.

Answer 8

Write it if you want to, as long as the names are changed any similarity to someone else is just a coincidence.

Answer 9

I know its been years since you posted this. How did it work out? The only thing I was going to suggest is to polish your grammar. Hope you found success.

Answer 10

Kid, whatever you are writing about has been written BEFORE! Trust me, your life and times are not a whole lot different from everyone, so you can can the drama. Unless this opus you are writing is ever published (doubtful would be putting it mildly), I wouldn't' worry about anyone finding out or punishing you. Frankly, if you are that worried, I would write about something else.