Okay, I'm getting absolutely nil response to this over in the "Life Stories" thread, so I'm re-posting it here.
Thanks
I've been dancing back and forth for quite a long while...Memoir or novel? Memoir or novel?...and the big thing holding me back from a straight memoir approach, really, is that I'm not comfortable disclosing the actual identities of a couple of my subjects. 90% of the people---either because I don't care about them or because I know they'd be cool with a memoir, or for some otherly other reason all together---I wouldn't mind, would even consider using their real names in a memoir. But that other 10% I just don't feel comfortable giving out their names or vital statistics, if I even know what their vital statistics are.
This might be because:
1) I don't feel comfortable having a publishing company calling someone I once deeply knew. That would be cruel. It would have to be me, and, for some of these people, I'm simply not up to it.
2) Some people I'm just not up for discussing at all, with anybody. And the reason why I created a story version of them was, this was the only way I could confront them. I couldn't think about them otherwise.
3) I like a little trust in my non-fiction. That's the way God does it. He gives us just enough to go on in the Bible, the rest is faith. I like to disclose just enough so my readers know I'm telling the truth, then the rest I hold back. Preserves the mystery
4) Some other deep, personal reason.
But with James Frey and Augusten Burrough and Dave Eggers (all suspect), I'm worried that a publisher or editor won't consider taking on a memoir unless the writer promises full disclosure of all people included. So I think to myself: "Self, is this a liability? Would I be better off writing this as autobiographical fiction?"
"Joshua," Self answers back. "You'd lose a lot of the power of your stories if you told it as fiction. It's better off as non-fiction.
"Yes," I argue back. "On the one hand, Self, you're probably right, because I'm always worried about plagiarism, and if I'm writing non-fiction, I don't have to worry about someone publishing my stories, because these stories are my life and nobody can take that away from me. But, on the other hand, fiction grants you relative immunity to the wrath of your relatives, immediate and otherwise."
And on and on we go, all about town, Self and I. Vicious circle, vicious circle.
Which is where you fine folk step in. The circle-breakers. What do you think? Weigh in? How would/do you cope with these crushing dilemmas
Thanks
I've been dancing back and forth for quite a long while...Memoir or novel? Memoir or novel?...and the big thing holding me back from a straight memoir approach, really, is that I'm not comfortable disclosing the actual identities of a couple of my subjects. 90% of the people---either because I don't care about them or because I know they'd be cool with a memoir, or for some otherly other reason all together---I wouldn't mind, would even consider using their real names in a memoir. But that other 10% I just don't feel comfortable giving out their names or vital statistics, if I even know what their vital statistics are.
This might be because:
1) I don't feel comfortable having a publishing company calling someone I once deeply knew. That would be cruel. It would have to be me, and, for some of these people, I'm simply not up to it.
2) Some people I'm just not up for discussing at all, with anybody. And the reason why I created a story version of them was, this was the only way I could confront them. I couldn't think about them otherwise.
3) I like a little trust in my non-fiction. That's the way God does it. He gives us just enough to go on in the Bible, the rest is faith. I like to disclose just enough so my readers know I'm telling the truth, then the rest I hold back. Preserves the mystery
4) Some other deep, personal reason.
But with James Frey and Augusten Burrough and Dave Eggers (all suspect), I'm worried that a publisher or editor won't consider taking on a memoir unless the writer promises full disclosure of all people included. So I think to myself: "Self, is this a liability? Would I be better off writing this as autobiographical fiction?"
"Joshua," Self answers back. "You'd lose a lot of the power of your stories if you told it as fiction. It's better off as non-fiction.
"Yes," I argue back. "On the one hand, Self, you're probably right, because I'm always worried about plagiarism, and if I'm writing non-fiction, I don't have to worry about someone publishing my stories, because these stories are my life and nobody can take that away from me. But, on the other hand, fiction grants you relative immunity to the wrath of your relatives, immediate and otherwise."
And on and on we go, all about town, Self and I. Vicious circle, vicious circle.
Which is where you fine folk step in. The circle-breakers. What do you think? Weigh in? How would/do you cope with these crushing dilemmas
