Fiction vs. NonFiction

[RoseWrites]

I'm in the process of writing a book. I have a good start on it, but here's my dilemma. It's a memoir of sorts, dealing with drama, humor, and tragedy (can give you info on what it's about if you need that) but now i'm thinking, should I add more to it to make it as a fiction story (based on true happenings.) I'm not thinking this because the story itself isn't interesting enough by itself, but there are two different ways to go with the market based on fiction or nonfiction. I'm thinking of submitting it soon but for most agency's I would need a book proposal for nonfiction, rather than just a query letter for fiction. Does a story seem more interesting if you know it's real life rather than fiction? In your own opinion what do you think? I've never had an actual book published so I don't know if it would be harder to get going if I went one way with this than the other. Since I'm an unpublished author would that have more bearing on my submission as a memoir rather than a fiction book? I'm just confused as to which direction I should take this. I have found several agencies and publishers who are looking for memoir submissions, but still, I would greatly appreciate any advice who's maybe dealt w/something similar, and any opinions from anyone out there who can offer them. Thanks!!

[Aconite]

Rose, you're the only one who can decide if the books should be fiction or nonfiction. If you're asking about it from a marketing standpoint, consider this: If you don't have a recognizable "name," and your story isn't truly unusual or compelling (tragic loss, illness, addiction, or abuse, while deeply significant to the participant, aren't the least bit unusual), what reason does a stranger have to pick up your memoir?

[RoseWrites]

Rose, you're the only one who can decide if the books should be fiction or nonfiction. If you're asking about it from a marketing standpoint, consider this: If you don't have a recognizable "name," and your story isn't truly unusual or compelling (tragic loss, illness, addiction, or abuse, while deeply significant to the participant, aren't the least bit unusual), what reason does a stranger have to pick up your memoir?
I was wondering about it from the marketing standpoint as well, so thanks, that does make sense. In the sense of my story though, it's a bit more unusual, perhaps even targeted towards YA, not the standardized versions of your examples. Well, at least in my opinion it is. Maybe I should post a brief paragraph explaining? I dunno, maybe it's unusual enough to be okay as a memoir, but maybe I need more than just my opinion as well.

[Sassenach]

I'm thinking of submitting it soon but for most agency's I would need a book proposal for nonfiction, rather than just a query letter for fiction.

You've been misinformed. Most, if not all, agencies will expect sample chapters for an unpubbed fiction writer.

[RoseWrites]

You've been misinformed. Most, if not all, agencies will expect sample chapters for an unpubbed fiction writer.
The agencies I am submitting to, most require either a query or synopsis (fiction) or a a proposal (nonfiction) before they will request chapters, per their guidelines.

[fedorable1]

To answer your original question about whether or not to make it, or even consider it, "fiction":

I personally believe that unless the book is a biography or every word is a direct quote (i.e. Diary of Anne Frank), or unless it has a standard encyclopedic or descriptive format, it should fall under the category of fiction. The reason being that otherwise you would be adding things someone did not truly say, do, or think, and it would then qualify as a fictional piece - even if it's based on real events. (Pretty much any "based on a true story" movie would be considered fiction, and a number of non-biographical books based on real events as well).

Biographies and even autobiographies can come under heavy scrutiny if they try to pass themselves off as nonfiction, because if any facts conflict with public or legal knowledge or records, the legitimacy of its "non-fiction" claim come into doubt.

[RoseWrites]

To answer your original question about whether or not to make it, or even consider it, "fiction":

I personally believe that unless the book is a biography or every word is a direct quote (i.e. Diary of Anne Frank), or unless it has a standard encyclopedic or descriptive format, it should fall under the category of fiction. The reason being that otherwise you would be adding things someone did not truly say, do, or think, and it would then qualify as a fictional piece - even if it's based on real events. (Pretty much any "based on a true story" movie would be considered fiction, and a number of non-biographical books based on real events as well).

Biographies and even autobiographies can come under heavy scrutiny if they try to pass themselves off as nonfiction, because if any facts conflict with public or legal knowledge or records, the legitimacy of its "non-fiction" claim come into doubt.
That is an excellent point that I will consider, thank you. In response though, wouldn't a memoir be based more losely on this though since it's re-creating a personal experience re the authors memory of the situation? Although I can see how any quotes of dialogue does conflict with it being "word for word" as you said.

[reph]

Does a story seem more interesting if you know it's real life rather than fiction?
Only if you know the people involved (most readers won't) or if the facts are written up in a special way so as to highlight drama and suspense, for example (the editors at Reader's Digest seem skilled at doing this for accounts of rescues, crimes, and medical events with unexpected good outcomes).

A novel has a structure not usually found in real-life events. Making a memoir into a convincing novel takes a lot of changes beyond just adding stuff.

If you go the fiction route, be aware of legal hazards. You'll have to disguise characters enough to make them unrecognizable.

[Mistook]

Which would make it more entertaining? Once you take a real life story and commit it to fiction, you have a great deal of freedom.

I know from attempts at writing my own memoires, that after checking facts with friends and family, my take on most events was quite selective, and quite far from reality... BUT... my take was much more entertaining!

That's why I've gone the way of fiction. I can draw from life experience without having to let the facts bog down the joy-ride. I further went into "urban fantasy" so that I weave imagininative experiences that were significant to me, but had no basis in reality.

But as Reph says, the line has to be clear in a legal sense.

Where exactly that legal line runs maybe should be discussed in more detail. Anybody have expertise they could lend to this? We see on TV a lot, that disclaimer, "Any resemblance to real persons living or dead is purely coincidental" Is that enough?

[aruna]

[QUOTE=reph]Only if you know the people involved (most readers won't) or if the facts are written up in a special way so as to highlight drama and suspense, for example (the editors at Reader's Digest seem skilled at doing this for accounts of rescues, crimes, and medical events with unexpected good outcomes).
QUOTE]

While we'tre on the subject, I've been wondering myself:
my novel has a sub-plot based on the historical background of the novel. Two historical characters appear, both of whom were famous at the time and country (early/mid 20th century) but will be unknown to most modern readers. In a few scenes, I have one of these real characters interacting with my fictional characters, in purely fictitious scenes.

This real character is now dead. Could there be any conceivable legal issue with this development? Nothing in the least derogatory is said about him; in fact, the opposite. he is shown in a very positive light.

[jules]

I don't suspect this is true in every country of the world, but in most I understand it is -- you can't libel someone who is dead. Therefore, you're effectively free to use them however you want in fiction (although, of course, if you have them behaving grossly out of character, anyone who knows about them will be pulled out of the story...)

[Kiva Wolfe]

I mention living people in passing in my novel to give it a sense of real-time and current issues. As far as I know, a case for libel can only be made if there if the author has intended malice, and that must be proven in court. Historical figures are by nature public figures, and not private citizens. So, I don't think you have any worries, but you might contact a lawyer. Your state may have a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing pro-bono legal advice. The following NY-based organization, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, has an interesting links section:

http://www.vlany.org

[RoseWrites]

Which would make it more entertaining? Once you take a real life story and commit it to fiction, you have a great deal of freedom.

I know from attempts at writing my own memoires, that after checking facts with friends and family, my take on most events was quite selective, and quite far from reality... BUT... my take was much more entertaining!

That's why I've gone the way of fiction. I can draw from life experience without having to let the facts bog down the joy-ride. I further went into "urban fantasy" so that I weave imagininative experiences that were significant to me, but had no basis in reality.

But as Reph says, the line has to be clear in a legal sense.

Where exactly that legal line runs maybe should be discussed in more detail. Anybody have expertise they could lend to this? We see on TV a lot, that disclaimer, "Any resemblance to real persons living or dead is purely coincidental" Is that enough?
In my case, the events happened to me, my experience of certain situations. A lot of it is pretty weird, which is one of the reasons I thought maybe as a nonfiction (memoir) it would seem not so much as "that author has some imagination" but rather "I can't believe that really happened." At least, that is the desired effect I'm hoping for. The only other characters mentioned in my story are my mom and brother (no problem there as my mom is encouraging this) and any other characters are dead. Not people with names, but corpses in general.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

Rose, I think that the work of people like Eggers and Murakami are quite relevent here. Eggers' tremendous debut A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius is based on his own life (his mum and dad are very important in it too), yet you can find it in fiction section. He does not stay true to events, and even admits this and laughs about it in a post-modern sought of way.
Your work sounds very surreal (the dead people part and it being weird as you say). I would suggest reading Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, which is supposed to based upon a past relationship (or so I have been led to believe, someone correct me if I am wrong) yet the central character spends most of it in his dreams and it is considered to be a work of great surrealism, which does leave you thinking 'what the hell happened there', which may be your desired effect.

Nique

[reph]

As far as I know, a case for libel can only be made if...the author has intended malice, and that must be proven in court....you might contact a lawyer.
Libel laws vary. In the U.S., truth is a defense against libel. In Germany, it isn't. Indeed, contact a lawyer if you have questions.

[RoseWrites]

thank you for that info...i will look for the book, sounds interesting.

[RoseWrites]

Rose, I think that the work of people like Eggers and Murakami are quite relevent here. Eggers' tremendous debut A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius is based on his own life (his mum and dad are very important in it too), yet you can find it in fiction section. He does not stay true to events, and even admits this and laughs about it in a post-modern sought of way.
Your work sounds very surreal (the dead people part and it being weird as you say). I would suggest reading Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, which is supposed to based upon a past relationship (or so I have been led to believe, someone correct me if I am wrong) yet the central character spends most of it in his dreams and it is considered to be a work of great surrealism, which does leave you thinking 'what the hell happened there', which may be your desired effect.

Nique
I looked up this book on amazon.....I read an excerpt and this is just oddly hilarious. I want read this book...I like his writing style in what i've read so far. I like the idea how it's "based on a true story" as stated on the cover. That isn't something I thought of, which actually sounds like a great idea on what I might just do with mine. "based on" would allow me to get creative on some parts (more so) all the while basing the entire story on the true events and situations. His story deals with everything on a humorous angle even though it's based on serious situations, something that my story has as well (murder, suicide) although the undertones to everytthing else is funny and bizarre. I wasn't sure if the two could mingle together as such, but his books seems to prove that it can happen. Thanks for recommending this book.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

I wasn't sure if the two could mingle together as such, but his books seems to prove that it can happen. Thanks for recommending this book.

You are welcome Rose. I hope you enjoy, it truly is brilliant. Sadly, I don't think he will ever reach that peak again - it is so...raw and frustrated - the book of a generation some may say. Good luck!

Nique