tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post5057806857455250034..comments2023-10-26T11:34:38.322-04:00Comments on Ask Allison: Fudging the FactsAllison Winn Scotchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-21525579804582000472007-12-24T08:23:00.000-05:002007-12-24T08:23:00.000-05:00Kate-Thanks for clarifying that. Good info to kno...Kate-<BR/>Thanks for clarifying that. Good info to know.<BR/>AllisonAllison Winn Scotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-17657892859004772732007-12-21T15:27:00.000-05:002007-12-21T15:27:00.000-05:00Very interesting discussion. I agree--always try t...Very interesting discussion. I agree--always try to be as truthful as possible in memoir. <BR/><BR/>A note about creative nonfiction: it encompasses memoir, personal essay and literary journalism--all of which is fact-based writing. It's a confusing term for people because they think if it's "creative," it's made-up, but that's not the case. It's creative because a memoirist, like a novelist, crafts a story (using character, dialogue, scene, language, etc.), but the story s/he is working with really happened.kate hopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08761820572827505993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-34831282682344716792007-12-20T12:45:00.000-05:002007-12-20T12:45:00.000-05:00Are you asking me anonymous? If so.. the book spun...Are you asking me anonymous? If so.. the book spun off of a popular column I had based on a health scare and it wasn't fiction. And while I'd always written fiction before, I sort of liked the challenge of writing about my life and it IS a challenge (for me) because you want to include all the juicy stuff but you don't want to hurt anyone... Also, when I said it was hard to sell, I didn't mean harder than fiction. I meant harder than other non-fiction.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05526275635891602588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-6149239144870527932007-12-20T10:19:00.000-05:002007-12-20T10:19:00.000-05:00If your not famous and you need to change things, ...If your not famous and you need to change things, why not sell it as fiction. Especially if its easier to sell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-33350871937675076702007-12-20T09:33:00.000-05:002007-12-20T09:33:00.000-05:00Hi Allison!As you know, my memoir CANCER IS A BITC...Hi Allison!<BR/><BR/>As you know, my memoir CANCER IS A BITCH will be published fall 2008 and I agree with everything you say. In my opinion, ALL events should be true and accurate. No embellishments of WHAT happened. But I have changed names (to protect privacy) and some details (for the same reason). Dialogue is sort of difficult to recall exactly so that is to the best of my memory (which we all know is not always 100% accurate). And yes, memoirs are a very tough sell (unless you're Britany Spears' mother).Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05526275635891602588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-29582930135792824912007-12-19T11:20:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:20:00.000-05:00I changed some names in mine, mostly ex boyfriends...I changed some names in mine, mostly ex boyfriends. I didn't want a reader to pick up my book and bring it home, only to discover that I once dated her husband. UGH!<BR/><BR/>My publisher never asked for real names. I guess nothing I said was so outlandish that they doubted me (or they figured none of these guys would want to fess up to being the jerks I describe). And you're right, you can't make up plot lines a la Mr. Frey. You can move stuff around chronologically a bit for flow, but it all has to be stuff that happened.<BR/><BR/>If you want to pitch as fiction, you can change whatever you want. My agent and I briefly discussed this option. It's a nice way to stay out of court, if that's a concern, and it gives you some freedom to make interesting situations really absurd and entertaining/horrifying. But I think it's a tougher sell unless you have a story line that really rocks.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you could query with your plot line, telling agents that it's a true story and you'd be open to pitching as either memoir or roman a clef. If they're interested, they'll be happy to advise.Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-45483626530409774352007-12-19T10:55:00.000-05:002007-12-19T10:55:00.000-05:00I've heard (although don't know for a fact) that i...I've heard (although don't know for a fact) that in a post Frey world the publisher will ask you for real names although names may be changed in the book. Any events should be real and if you start straying into the "it would be a lot more touching if the dad died in this scene where they finally met after years of being lost in the Arctic versus a few months later" then they call it fiction. <BR/><BR/>Personally my life is too boring to be a good memoir, readers are rushing to read "Home in bed by 10 with a good book."Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967828178034612278noreply@blogger.com