Book 1 = Memoir, Book 2 = Fiction?

jennifer75 · Jul 30, 2008

Ok, so I'm writing a memoir. Here's my idea for my next (god I hope I get passed the first one) story idea.

I'd like to write the same story, from the opposite sex's POV. So, basically in my current WIP, I'm writing my memoir. I'd like to write the events as they happened in someone elses POV. Now, obviously that would be fictional, because I have no idea what said POV was thinking, etc.

Can I follow up my memoir with a fictional piece? Is that too bizarre? How would I introduce the second piece without causing problems with my memoir's integrity?

willietheshakes · Jul 30, 2008

jennifer75 said:
Can I follow up my memoir with a fictional piece? Is that too bizarre? How would I introduce the second piece without causing problems with my memoir's integrity?

I have no actual thoughts to contribute, but I wanted it noted that I withstood the temptation of making a series of James Frey jokes...

Actually, I do have something to contribute: is it bizarre? A bit. Is it too bizarre? That comes down to the writing. If it works, then the answer is "No".

My caution would be that the memoir, on its own, would have to be fairly compelling. The fiction follow-up would need to be that much moreso, and need to stand on its own as well as a correlative to the memoir.

jennifer75 · Jul 30, 2008

Well, basically the story would be told by a major player in the memoir's story. So, since I am not him, I can't put it out as non-fiction even though I'm sure I know him like a book, I couldn't pretend what I'm writing actually was going on in his head, though I'm pretty sure, that dirty piece of.....

So yea, it would have to be fiction, and I'm sure if written correctly, would be an exciting and interesting POV to follow the memoir.

I guess I can only try.

Alpha Echo · Jul 30, 2008

Hmmm...that would be interesting.

It reminds me of how, years after classics like Tom Sawyer, an author comes out with a sequel from Beth's POV. (It is Beth, right? It's actually on my wish list). Although, that's different because both pieces were ficiton.

I think it's interesting, and I think that if you drudged up enough interest in your memoir, the sequel, though fiction, would also gain interest. I like the idea a lot. I say go for it. Even if you can't call it a sequel, you'll probably have a great work of fiction!

hammerklavier · Jul 30, 2008

You could get sued by this other person over the fictional work unless you changed him enough that you could claim it wasn't really him.

As far as the two books being marketable together, I don't think so, unless the first was immensly popular.

jennifer75 · Jul 30, 2008

hammerklavier said:
You could get sued by this other person over the fictional work unless you changed him enough that you could claim it wasn't really him.

As far as the two books being marketable together, I don't think so, unless the first was immensly popular.

Well, the person I'd be writing about in my memoir (names will be changed) doesn't even know I exist I'm sure, not anymore anyways...I was just a "notch". So in book 2, there would be no way of him knowing who my character was based on.
Then again......

Selcaby · Jul 30, 2008

jennifer75 said:
Well, the person I'd be writing about in my memoir (names will be changed) doesn't even know I exist I'm sure, not anymore anyways...I was just a "notch". So in book 2, there would be no way of him knowing who my character was based on.
Then again......

Getting a book published, especially if it's success, could well bring you back to the attention of the man you think has forgotten you. Even if you write under a pseudonym, there's a chance he could recognise himself, especially if he recognises the setting. Then he'll be on the lookout for what you write next.

If you are really such a small part of his life that he wouldn't remember you or the events you shared with him, you've got a better chance of pulling it off because your sequel would have to invent so much about him that you'd end up with a genuine fictional character. But if, say, your memoir is about being a witness to a crime and he was investigating it, then if the situation was drawn-out or interesting enough to make a story from, he'd probably remember that even if he didn't remember you.

jennifer75 · Jul 31, 2008

Selcaby said:
Getting a book published, especially if it's success, could well bring you back to the attention of the man you think has forgotten you. Even if you write under a pseudonym, there's a chance he could recognise himself, especially if he recognises the setting. Then he'll be on the lookout for what you write next.

If you are really such a small part of his life that he wouldn't remember you or the events you shared with him, you've got a better chance of pulling it off because your sequel would have to invent so much about him that you'd end up with a genuine fictional character. But if, say, your memoir is about being a witness to a crime and he was investigating it, then if the situation was drawn-out or interesting enough to make a story from, he'd probably remember that even if he didn't remember you.

Without ruining the surprise of my memoir, I can't say much about our relationship, (who'm I kidding, who's gonna read my memoir???)
but I can say that the short period of time we spent together, if he remembers me or the time spent, if it meant enough to him to be remembered, he'd be here today. I'd like to think.

But yea, who knows. This is why I juggled with making my memoir appear as fiction. So I wouldn't have to worry about any of it. Argh.

Oh....and if I change names and locations, is that "fictionalizing" a memoir? Is that a no-no??? Where is the line drawn, when making changes to a memoir in order to spare those involved, and lying?

IceCreamEmpress · Jul 31, 2008

Alpha Echo said:
It reminds me of how, years after classics like Tom Sawyer, an author comes out with a sequel from Beth's POV. (It is Beth, right? It's actually on my wish list).

Becky Thatcher.

I love the "other character's point of view" subgenre, from Wicked to Mrs. de Winter to The Wide Sargasso Sea to Mary Reilly to Mr. Timothy...oh, so many good ones.

But, yeah, if you're fictionalizing a real person, be careful.

jennifer75 said:
Oh....and if I change names and locations, is that "fictionalizing" a memoir? Is that a no-no???

No. It's very common in non-fiction of all sorts. "The story you are about to hear is true: only the names have been changed to protect the innocent" in the words of "The FBI"'s opening credits.

You have to say this somewhere in the Author's Note or similar addenda, though.

Book 1 = Memoir, Book 2 = Fiction?

jennifer75

SupahStah!

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

jennifer75

SupahStah!

Alpha Echo

I should be writing.

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

jennifer75

SupahStah!

Selcaby

Writer of wrongs

jennifer75

SupahStah!

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago