I'm writing a book but everything I write seems to be similar to something that has happened to me or a friend, its like autobiographical, rather than fiction... does that matter?!
2006-11-05 22:32:34 · 16 answers · asked by hannahrarian 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
No. As long as your book is interesting, it doesn't matter..
2006-11-05 22:34:41 · answer #1 · answered by ♡ Choc ♡ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Don't listen to that Calvin reply. Non-fiction and Biographical works are written from memory. Perhaps we remember instances in our life in a different way than others who also experienced life with us, take for example a houseful of children who were all physically abused by the father except for the youngest child. All of those children will have a different sense of memory. Memory is relative. One child may have a completely different reaction to things and has blocked some of the more violent occurences out of their mind forever. No matter how many times another child who remembers everything detail for detail says, "This happened like this..." that other child will deny it because in his/her world it never happened. Just remember that truth is memory related. You shouldn't distort it if at all possible, but tell it exactly as you remember and you'll be just fine.
2. Since I was a little girl they've been saying, "There's nothing new under the sun." Well, that may be true since there are only so many experiences to be had in the world. The key is in the telling of the store. Compel your readers, not just with flowery language (try to avoid that the best way you can,) but with honesty they can grab onto and relate to. The number one key in the nonfiction genre is creating a bond between the characters and the readers, that even if the reader has never been through what your character is going through, they feel the joy and pain of those experiences.
If you want some examples of great nonfiction prose you could read to get some ideas on style, check out the nonfiction biography section at the library.
2006-11-06 00:53:09 · answer #2 · answered by jennybeanses 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Just write. Don't think about it too much at this stage.
When its all down and the story seems complete, go back and spice it up, trim it down, spread it out.
Sometimes when I am stumped, I'll just start with a day in the life of... sort of short story, I'll stick to it verbatim and when I'm done. I'll go back and throw in a 'what if' scenario. That can change the entire flow of the story, but the actual events built in my foundation which can pull me out of most slumpy days.
Whatever you are writing, just keep writing. Don't second guess yourself until your done.
On some of my stories, the most fun part is the 'initial cleaning' stage.
Reworking a 'blah' story is infinitely more fun if the 'blah' story has a beginning, middle and end. Most of the 'grind' work is done.
Keep it up! and have fun!
2006-11-06 04:23:29 · answer #3 · answered by Oh, I see 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a word,No,because when writing, we can draw upon our own life experiences for inspiration.It may be something that happened to yourself,or a friend ,or maybe even someone you have heard about.listen out for snippets of conversation overheard in queues,bus stops,anywhere and note down anything that takes your intrest.find ways to change the story a little so that it doesn't become like an autobiograpy of your own life,and has maybe the ending that you would have 'hoped' had the real life not happened,that way its total fiction
2006-11-05 22:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by pinkydinkydoo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is the problem which every new writer faces. It should be overcome at any cost. No doubt, literature, is a reflection of life. It should come out of the experience that we gain in life, but it ought not to reproduce our life's instances. That will take sheen out of the book. For this, you need read a lot of books, before writing a book of your own.
2006-11-05 23:06:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is only biographical when every single fact is the truth, nothing but the truth. And it will be fiction when you use fictional names for the characters, change the names of the places, the time, the people involved, the surrounding, etc. Good luck!
2006-11-06 00:19:20 · answer #6 · answered by Calvin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. The number one rule of writing is ; write what you know. John Grisham was a lawyer. If he had tried to write a chick lit book it quite possibly would have been terrible. You should keep going. Because you are familiar with the topic, it will sound much more 'real'. Happy writing!
2006-11-05 22:42:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, in fact it helps. If you have experienced it directly or from a close friend, it will make it all more credible in the book and lend some passion, which is very important! Writers should draw on personal experiences.
Hope your book sells a lot of copies!
2006-11-06 07:11:28 · answer #8 · answered by kiteeze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are the best type of books. Written and driven by your emotions and events happening to you. It then actually seem interesting. Keep writing, can't wait to look for your book. You can look for mine too some day.
2006-11-06 01:19:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. Writing from life makes it more believeable and much easier to do for the first book. Second book you find it easier to digress from real life.
2006-11-09 22:13:11 · answer #10 · answered by Amanda K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most writers will use the experiences of others in their books. It doesn't matter as long as you protect the persons privacy (if it could be embarassing to them). You can protect their privacy by changing their name and the details of the situation.
2006-11-05 22:45:34 · answer #11 · answered by Paul B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋