Breaking Down Autobiographical Fiction

Many writers bring in the joys or madness of their lives in a piece of fiction. Some stories genesis comes about because of an odd life experience, usually one that had resonance, and often these make some of our best stories. An autobiographical piece can come from the heart if written out in the right fashion, and at times even the smallest bit of personal experience can make a piece truly alive.

What makes for true autobiographical fiction? It does not all have to be true, in truth most of it is not; instead a few points often form the core of the narrative and lead into other possibilities. Writers like William Faulkner said that research should never be part of the writing process; it should instead bring in personal life experiences in a resounding way that will make the audience enjoy it, and bring happiness or sadness to their lives.

A few examples from autobiographical fiction could come from many writers, but for this discussion a few will be pointed out in the hope that examples will prove autobiographical fiction can truly be great. One of the better writers of this form in recent memory is Richard Yates. With each further piece this novelist and short story writer created it was obvious he was adding more and more personal life experiences into the narrative. Some critics said this road had been traveled too much, but Yates led such an eventful, if depressing, life that he could not help but add this element in. Other writers do not bring in full autobiography, but find themselves writing more and more about themselves. Stephen King did not realize he was writing about himself in the classic horror, "The Shining," until it became apparent that the alcoholic writer who was struggling was really him. The most notorious autobiographical writer would be one of the better American writers ever, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald would write in pieces of his own life into his pieces, but would also read his wife Zelda's journal for real life elements. Paul Auster, another literary writer, wrote his best story "City of Glass" after receiving a phone call asking for someone he was not; in the story he proposed that he was the person they were asking for-and a classic was made.

Real life elements do not have to fill the story, as can be seen from these notes, but often provide the impetuous for continuing it. Paul Auster did not actually bring in a autobiography; instead he used his imagination to wonder how he might have acted different. When blocked a writer can work out how things really happened and do what Auster did. It almost always has to come from the heart, but does not have to be inherently original.

I have brought personal life experiences into many of my stories. These were the best received of any stories I had ever written. What it amounts to is the fact that real life events can sometimes be far more interesting than those odd plots we have floating around in the imagination.

In the end, personal experience will form the core of just about every story in some way. If it has quality, if it brings out happiness or sadness in the reader, it will show that the experience was not only worthwhile but will make the writer seek out more.