I think every writer who writes fiction—i.e. not a journalist, reporter, or documentary writer—writes autobiographically. Where else does the content and imagery come from?
I’m working to finish an autobiographical trilogy—Leaving Home—and I can get trapped in thinking that story details have to parallel the events of my life.
Well today I was released.
Not journalism.
I had no problem in the first two books but hit a wall with the third—having to recount actual events. NO! I’m writing a story. Yes it’s about my life. But it’s first and foremost a story. I can build it how I want to make the story work.
What a relief!
