Memoirs: Fact or Fiction?
Drawing the Line between Fact and Fiction
in Writing Your Memoirs

By Linda C. Senn

Whether they are books, essays, or articles, the word “memoir” implies that the stories written therein really happened. And so it should be. However, you may run into a problem when the literal facts fail to illustrate the emotions felt. At times in our lives, a single word spoken just so by a certain person can evoke an incredible emotional response – either positive or negative.

In that situation, I believe it helps the reader to best understand the story if you adjust the facts slightly in order to show the true situation. That should seldom happen if the writer makes the effort to fully recreate the scene as it happened. But there may be the rare exception.

What you can do to protect your reputation for honesty is to include a disclaimer in the front of the book or foot of the essay stating:

Certain situations in this book have been altered slightly to better portray the actual emotions and actions of that event.

Authors are then on their honor to limit those minor alterations to only those that clarify the reader’s understanding.

©  Pen Central Communications 2006

 

For additional information, contact Linda Senn at Linda@PenCentralOnline.com

 

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