Definitions Of Fiction Categories And Genres | Writers Digest UniversityWriters Digest University Definitions Of Fiction Categories And Genres The following definitions have been excerpted with permission from Writer’s Encyclopedia, (Writer’s Digest Books) Adventure Story A genre of fiction in which action is the key element, overshadowing characters, theme and setting. … The conflict in an adventure story is often man against nature. A secondary plot that reinforces this kind of conflict is sometimes included. In Allistair MacLean’s Night Without End, for example, the hero, while investigating a mysterious Arctic air crash, also finds himself dealing with espionage, sabotage and murder. Biographical Novel A life story documented in history and transformed into fiction through the insight and imagination of the writer. This type of novel melds the elements of biographical research and historical truth into the framework of a novel, complete with dialogue, drama and mood. A biographical novel resembles historical fiction, save for one aspect: Characters in a historical novel may be fabricated and then placed into an authentic setting; characters in a biographical novel have actually lived. Ethnic Fiction Stories and novels whose central characters are black, Native American, Italian-American, Jewish, Appalachian or members of some other specific cultural group.

Ethnic fiction usually deals with a protagonist caught between two conflicting ways of life: mainstream American culture and his ethnic heritage. Fictional Biography The biography of a real person that goes beyond the events of a person’s life by being fleshed out with imagined scenes and dialogue. The writer of fictional biographies strives to make it clear that the story is, indeed, fiction and not history. Gothic This type of category fiction dates back to the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Contemporary gothic novels are characterized by atmospheric, historical settings and feature young, beautiful women who win the favor of handsome, brooding heroes—simultaneously dealing successfully with some life-threatening menace, either natural or supernatural. Gothics rely on mystery, peril, romantic relationships and a sense of foreboding for their strong, emotional effect on the reader. A classic early gothic novel is Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. The gothic writer builds a series of credible, emotional crises for his ultimately triumphant heroine. Sex between the woman and her lover is implied rather than graphically detailed; the writer’s descriptive talents are used instead to paint rich, desolate, gloomy settings in stark mansions and awesome castles.

He composes slow-paced, intricate sketches that create a sense of impending evil on every page. Historical Fiction A fictional story set in a recognizable period of history. As well as telling the stories of ordinary people’s lives, historical fiction may involve political or social events of the time. Horror Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft, generally acknowledged to be the master of the horror tale in the twentieth century and the most important American writer of this genre since Edgar Allan Poe, maintained that “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. These facts few psychologists will dispute, and their admitted truth must establish for all time the genuineness and dignity of the weirdly horrible tales as a literary form.” Lovecraft distinguishes horror literature from fiction based entirely on physical fear and the merely gruesome. “The true weird tale has something more than secret murder, bloody bones or a sheeted form clanking chains according to rule.

A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread of outer, unknown forces must be present; there must be a hint, expressed with a seriousness and portentousness becoming its subject, of that most terrible concept of the human brain—a malign and particular suspension or defeat of the fixed laws of Nature which are our only safeguards against the assaults of chaos and the daemons of unplumbed space.” It is that atmosphere—the creation of a particular sensation or emotional level—that, according to Lovecraft, is the most important element in the creation of horror literature. [Lovecraft and Poe produced classics in this genre]; contemporary writers enjoying considerable success in [horror fiction] include Stephen King, Robert Bloch, Peter Straub, and Dean Koontz. Juveniles, Writing for This includes works … intended for an audience usually between the ages of two and sixteen. Writing for children is a specialized art that’s harder than it looks. The language must be appropriate for the age of the reader, the subject matter must be of interest to the target age group, the opening of the work must be vivid enough to capture the reader’s attention and the writing throughout must be action-oriented enough to keep it. … Story ideas begin with a strong character and meaningful, directed action.

The use of suspense and the interplay of human relationships are two features of effective juvenile fiction. Books and stories are told almost exclusively from a single viewpoint (in first or third person), as this technique helps to establish and sustain a sense of reader identity… . Categories of children’s books are usually divided in this way: (1) picture and storybooks (ages two to nine)… ; (2) easy-to-read books (ages seven to nine)… ; (3) “middle-age” [also called “middle grade”] children’s books (ages eight to twelve)… ; (4) young adult books (ages twelve to sixteen)… . Literary Fiction vs. Commercial Fiction To the writer of literary, or serious, fiction, style and technique are often as important as subject matter. … Commercial fiction, however, is written with the intent of reaching as wide an audience as possible. … Commercial fiction is sometimes called genre fiction because books of this type often fall into categories, such as western, gothic, romance, historical, mystery and horror. Mainstream Fiction Fiction that transcends popular novel categories—mystery, romance or science fiction, [etc.]—is called mainstream fiction.

Using conventional methods, this kind of fiction tells stories about people and their conflicts but with greater depth of characterization, background, etc. than the more narrowly focused genre novels. It is not, however, experimental in style as are more avant-garde works. Some examples of contemporary mainstream fiction would be the work of James Michener, John Updike and Joyce Carol Oates. Mystery A form of narration in which one or more elements remain unknown or unexplained until the end of the story. The modern mystery story contains elements of the serious novel: a convincing account of a character’s struggle with various physical and psychological obstacles in an effort to achieve his goal, good characterization and sound motivation. Nonfiction Novel A work in which real events and people are written [about] in novel form, but are not camouflaged, as they are in the roman a clef. In the nonfiction novel, reality is presented imaginatively; the writer imposes a novelistic structure on the actual events, keying sections of narrative around moments that are seen (in retrospect) as symbolic. In this way, he creates a coherence that the actual story might not have had.

The Executioner’s Song, by Norman Mailer, and In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, are notable examples of the nonfiction novel. Popular Fiction Generally, a synonym for category or genre fiction; i.e., fiction intended to appeal to audiences for certain kinds of novels. … Popular, or category, fiction is defined as such primarily for the convenience of publishers, editors, reviewers and booksellers who must identify novels of different areas of interest for potential readers. Psychological Novel A narrative that emphasizes the mental and emotional aspects of its characters, focusing on motivations and mental activities rather than on exterior events. The psychological novelist is less concerned about relating what happened than about exploring why it happened. … The term is most often used to describe twentieth-century works that employ techniques such as interior monologue and stream of consciousness. Two [examples of contemporary] psychological novels … are Judith Guest’s Ordinary People and Mary Gordon’s The Company of Women. Roman a Clef The French term for “novel with a key.” This type of novel incorporates real people and events into the story under the guise of fiction. Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, in which the character Willie Stark represents Huey Long, is a novel in this genre.

Romance Novel Also known as the category romance, the romance novel is a type of category fiction in which the love relationship between a man and a woman pervades the plot. The story [is often] told from the viewpoint of the heroine, who meets a man (the hero), falls in love with him, encounters a conflict that hinders their relationship, then resolves the conflict. … Romance is the overriding element in this kind of story: The couple’s relationship determines the plot and tone of the book. The theme of the novel is the woman’s sexual awakening. Although she may not be a virgin, she has never before been so emotionally aroused. Despite all this emotion, however, characters and plot both must be well-developed and realistic: Contrived situations and flat characters are unacceptable. Throughout a romance novel, the reader senses the sexual and emotional attraction between the heroine and hero. Lovemaking scenes, though sometimes detailed, are not generally too graphic, because more emphasis is placed on the sensual element than on physical action. Romantic Suspense Novel The romantic suspense novel is a modern emergence of early gothic writing. This genre evolved in the 1950s with writers such as Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.

… The genre is recognizable when contrasted with other writing. It is not a detective mystery story because the law (police) rarely gets involved in the action. It also differs from traditional … suspense novels because it moves more slowly and has more character interplay and psychological conflict than the fast-paced violence of [most] suspense thrillers. Science Fiction [vs. Fantasy] Science fiction can be defined as literature involving elements of science and technology as a basis for conflict, or as the setting for a story. The science and technology are generally extrapolations of existing scientific fact, and most (though not all) science fiction stories take place in the future. There are other definitions of science fiction, and much disagreement in academic circles as to just what constitutes science fiction and what constitutes fantasy. This is because in some cases the line between science fiction and fantasy is virtually nonexistent. Despite the controversy, it is generally accepted that, to be science fiction, a story must have elements of science. Fantasy, on the other hand, rarely utilizes science, relying instead on magic, mythological and neo-mythological beings and devices, and outright invention for conflict and setting.

… Contemporary science fiction, while maintaining its focus on science and technology, is more concerned with the effects of science and technology on people. Since science is such an important factor is writing science fiction, accuracy with reference to science fact is important. Most of the science in science fiction is hypothesized from known facts, so, in addition to being firmly based in fact, the extrapolations must be consistent. Science fiction writers make their own rules for future settings, but the field requires consistency. … Beyond inconsistency and an overabundance of gadgetry in place of a good story, there are few taboos in science fiction. Techno-Thriller This genre utilizes many of the same elements as the thriller, with one major difference. In techno-thrillers, technology becomes a major character. In Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October [for example], specific functions of the submarine become crucial to plot development. Thriller A novel intended to arouse feelings of excitement or suspense. Works in this genre are highly sensational, usually focusing on illegal activities, international espionage, sex and violence. A thriller is often a detective story in which the forces of good are pitted against the forces of evil in a kill-or-be-killed situation.

Young Adult A term used … to refer to the books published for young people between the ages of twelve and seventeen. These tips came from the course Fiction Writing 104: Advanced Novel Writing Whether you write short fiction, nonfiction, memoir or poetry, chances are there is a novel yearning to get out. The idea of actually writing something as long and complex as a novel can seem overwhelming. You can set your novel free – by developing a plan with someone who has successfully negotiated this literary minefield. You will learn: The components of a completely developed novel idea Character building and the selection of both your viewpoint character(s) and main characters Functions of setting, and how to use setting to generate plot To use dramatic and nondramatic scenes To keep readers holding on until the very end. Roman à clef - definition of roman à clef by The Free Dictionary Roman à clef - definition of roman à clef by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Wikipedia . ro·man à clef n. pl. ro·mans à clef (rōmäN′ zä klā′) A novel in which actual persons, places, or events are depicted in fictional guise.

[French : roman, novel + à, with + clef, key.] roman à clef n, pl romans à clef (rɔmɑ̃ a kle) (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names [literally: novel with a key] roman à clef 1. A French phrase meaning novel with a key, used to mean a novel in which real people are described but under false names. 2. A story based on real characters and events known to the author, but presented under fictitious names. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Roman a clef | Define Roman a clef at Dictionary.com literally: novel with a key Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 roman a clef in Culture Expand roman à clef [(roh-mahn ah klay)] A novel in which actual people and places are disguised as fictional characters . Roman à clef is French for “novel with a key.” The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. People invent new words all the time, but which ones actually make it? Word of the Day Rights of Writers: Could I Be Liable for Libel in Fiction? Saturday, December 18, 2010 Could I Be Liable for Libel in Fiction? First, by way of reassurance, you should keep in mind that libel in fiction is rare.

Considering the vast number of novels, short stories, and satirical works published every year, successful libel suits arising out of fiction are few and far between. In theory, the circumstances that can give rise to a claim are fairly obvious: a character in a work of fiction is interpreted by readers to be a depiction of an actual living person; the character is depicted as behaving in an unsavory manner; and the living person contends that he/she never engaged in such behavior. Plaintiffs have ranged from clearly named public persons to obscure (and even considerably disguised) acquaintances of the authors. This interesting ongoing case involving an episode of Law and Order is fairly typical; according to The Wall Street Journal it is the first libel in fiction case to survive summary judgment in New York in nearly 25 years. You do not libel someone simply by depicting him or her in fictional circumstances. Libel requires a false and defamatory statement of fact "of and concerning" an identifiable living person (or business entity).

If real people are depicted in your work only as engaging in acts they actually engaged in, there is no "falsity." If real people are depicted in your work only as engaging in acts that are not at all untoward, there is no reasonable claim for that your work is "defamatory." (Of course, your model's view of whether he or she has been held up to shame and ridicule may differ markedly from yours.) Finally, if readers would not understand the statements you are making about your fictional character to be statements about a real person, then the statements are not "of and concerning" that person. Rodney Smolla , the author of one of the two leading treatises on defamation, has neatly summarized the spectrum of risk: When an author wants to draw from a real person as the basis for a fictional character, there are two relatively "safe" courses of action from a legal perspective: First, the author may make little or no attempt to disguise the character, but refrain from any defamatory and false embellishments on the character's conduct or personality; second, the author may engage in creative embellishments that reflect negatively on the character's reputation, but make substantial efforts to disguise the character . . . to avoid identification.

When an author takes a middle ground, however, neither adhering perfectly to the person's attributes and behavior nor engaging in elaborate disguise, there is a threat of defamation liability. The courts have struggled with the question of when statements in a fictional work should be deemed "of and concerning" a real person with similar attributes. In the most plaintiff-friendly decisions, the courts have said that a jury need only determine whether "the libel designates the plaintiff in such a way as to let those who knew him understand that he was the person meant." Here is one such case ; note, however, the court's extensive itemization of similarities between the plaintiff and the character in order to justify its decision. Other cases, such as Welch v. Penguin Books , have been far more protective of writers, holding that "identification alone" is not a sufficient basis for imposing liability, and that the jury must instead be "totally convinced that the book in all its aspects as far as the plaintiff is concerned is not fiction at all." How do you avoid defaming someone with your works of fiction? 1. Don't use your published work to settle scores with others. Reserve your vengeance for your diary or private notebooks.

If you suspect your readers will recognize your fictional villains as the real-life individuals whom you used as models, then more fiction and less faction may be in order before you publish. 2. If you model a negatively portrayed character after a real person, change as many identifying details as you reasonably can: name, place of residence, age, physical description, personal background, occupation, relationships with other characters -- even the character's sex or ethnicity. Sidebar: The 1979 California case of Bindrim v. Mitchell illustrates the challenges of disguising a character while retaining the essential elements of the story you want to tell. Gwen Davis Mitchell, the author of the novel Touching, had attended a series of real-life therapy sessions conducted by Dr. Paul Bindrim. As a condition of participating, she had signed an agreement in which she agreed not to write about the sessions. When Mitchell later wrote her novel, she included a character, Simon Herford, who conducted marathon nude therapy sessions and occasionally used less-than-chivalrous four-letter words. Actually pretty mild stuff by 2011 standards. The fictional Herford not only had a different name from Dr. Bindrim, but Mitchell also gave him a different physical appearance and a different professional background.

Nevertheless, the court found that Herford was recognizable as Bindrim to at least some of his colleagues, and therefore, to the extent that readers understood the novel to be making statements about Bindrim that he could prove to be false and defamatory, Bindrim could recover from Mitchell for libel. Here is an amused and amusing People magazine account of the dispute. Ultimately, Dr. Bindrim obtained a substantial judgment against the novelist and publisher, which was upheld on appeal. (Full disclosure: my firm was involved on behalf of the defendants at the appeal stage.) The existence of the contract was an unusual twist and certainly complicated the defense, but the case stands as a warning about the considerable care that must be taken to distance fictional characters, who are depicted as misbehaving, from real individuals who may have inspired those characters. 3. Don't use a name for your villain that echoes or conjures up the name of a real person on whom the character is based, e.g., Donald Knight should not be renamed Ronald Day in your novel. 4. Disclaimers can't hurt. You will frequently see in the front matter of novels a statement such as: "This is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental." A disclaimer won't really protect you if there is evidence that the similarities are not "entirely coincidental." Nevertheless, a disclaimer gives a lawyer defending you something specific to point to in order to underscore to the court that "this work is presented to the world as 'fiction' not as a factual account." And, remember, under the law, a reasonable reader would have to understand a statement about a person as a "false and defamatory" statement of fact for it to be libelous. 5. Keep in mind that (with rare exceptions I won't venture into here) you can't libel the dead. Basing a character on the dearly or undearly departed is unlikely to give rise to a problem. (But keep in mind how your dead character interacts with other characters, who may have counterparts among still-living real individuals.

For example, consider a plot line where a character -- based on a real though dead person -- is depicted as a murderer, and his fictional brother is depicted as failing to disclose the crime to the authorities; a real-life brother of the real-life, identifiable model for the killer character might be heard to complain.) 6. In some instances, the fact that the fiction is so far-fetched has worked to the author's benefit, giving rise to a successful argument that no reasonable reader could possibly conclude that the defamatory statements were statements of fact, even though a reader might conceivably associate the character with a living person. See the kinky case of Pring v. Penthouse . 7. Remember that businesses and organizations can be defamed, too; so take care to avoid the false implication that an identifiable real entity has engaged in bad acts. 8. If you have doubts or concerns about the way you have modeled a character after a living person, raise them with your editor or the publisher's in-house attorney before the work goes to press. With a little rewriting, libel in fiction issues are almost always resolvable without significant detriment to a story line. You can still write a biting roman a clef even in these litigious times.

Fiction Or Nonfiction? Memoir Or Novel? Know What To Call Your Story Or Book - Writer's Relief, Inc. Fiction Or Nonfiction? Memoir Or Novel? Know What To Call Your Story Or Book Posted on Google+3 Occasionally, we at Writer’s Relief find ourselves working with a writer who doesn’t quite know what genre he or she is writing (fiction or nonfiction). Let’s say a book or story is based loosely on the author’s real-life adventures. Perhaps the names have been changed. Or maybe one or two little things have been altered, but the story is largely factual. Should this story be called fiction or nonfiction? If the story is in book form, should it be pitched as a novel or a memoir ? Here are some scenarios we’ve run into, along with suggested solutions. SITUATION ONE. The author has written a book based on his life. The story is faithful to his experiences in the way that all creative nonfiction tries to recreate stories from memories as accurately as possible. The author has changed the characters’ names to protect identities, but otherwise everything is true. (Writer’s Relief tip: Changing a person’s name will not necessarily protect you from a lawsuit if your characters are recognizable as real people.

Learn more: Creative Nonfiction: How To Stay Out Of Trouble ). The problem: The author values his life experience and wants to pitch his book as a memoir. But the names have been changed, so in that way, it’s not entirely truthful. Solution: In your query letter , explain the situation clearly: My book is an accurate memoir of my life story, though I have changed some names. SITUATION TWO. An author has written a book based loosely on her life. The story is very familiar to her because she has lived much of it. She has changed characters’ names. She has also taken liberties here and there in order to make the story more compelling, and she amped up her ending to be a little flashier. The problem: The writer knows that small parts of her tale are fictionalized (perhaps she added a pet dog, a villain, or a love interest), but the larger story is mostly true. Because her real-life experience is so out of the ordinary, she feels it’s important that readers understand that the things she’s writing about actually happened to her (for the most part). Is this a memoir or a novel? Fiction or nonfiction?

Solution: In this case, we feel the author would be best served by calling her story a novel. Memoir promises truth, and so if the book is not as truthful as the author can possibly make it, then it is not a memoir. In her professional writer’s biography, the author might note that her own story is similar to the story of the novel—though not exactly the same. Like our insider info and writing advice? Then you’ll love the many other ways Writer’s Relief can help! From effectively targeting markets, writing dynamic query letters, building authors’ online platforms, and much more—find out how Writer’s Relief can boost your exposure and maximize your acceptance rate. SITUATION THREE. A writer has a friend who has an unusual life story because she was a professional spy. The writer gets his friend’s permission to write a story about everything that happened to her. The problem: The writer is responsible for what he writes. And so if the writer’s friend is feeding him inaccuracies—intentionally or not—the writer will be responsible if/when the book is published. Research is key. All sources must be verified.

Solution: If the writer has done his due diligence and all facts are backed up with proof, then this book might be best pitched as a biography. But if the writer can’t perfectly attest to the truthfulness of his friend’s story, then this book might be best pitched as a novel—and it should probably be quite fictionalized to protect the subjects, the writer, and the publisher. Still not sure what to call your story? If you’re not sure whether or not your book is a novel or a memoir, you don’t necessarily have to worry too deeply about it while you’re querying literary agents . Your job as a writer is simply to write the best book you can. You can learn more about short stories, essays, and mixed-genre pieces as well in order to decide what to call your work. Finally, you can always call your project “a story inspired by real-life events” or “a work loosely based on my life.” If a literary agent or editor is interested in your project because you’ve got a strong story and a unique voice, then it’s likely that he or she will be happy to talk with you about the most appropriate way to publish or pitch it. Learn more: How To Write Fiction Based On Real Life .

THE MORAL: Always be honest. If parts of your story are fabricated, say so. If you’ve changed nothing but names, say that as well. As long as you’re being honest, you have nothing to worry about! Remember, our team of submission strategists is here to help. We’ve been working with creative writers since 1994 to help them navigate the publishing industry. And we’re standing by to help you too! QUESTION: Do you base your characters closely on people you’ve met? Or are your characters born mostly of your imagination? 54 Responses to Fiction Or Nonfiction? Memoir Or Novel? Know What To Call Your Story Or Book Sophie Benjamin says: September 1, 2016 at 1:45 pm A really helpful article, thank you!! I´ve always thought that “fiction” must surely contain some truth, otherwise the person writing it would not be human if it were devoid of any real feelings or experiences. Thank you again, this article helped me with my first novel as I prepare to send it to an agent. Sophie Benjamin Quang says: February 3, 2016 at 1:47 pm I wrote a book about my love life.

The story is true. I only changed the name of the main character to protect my friend. But the events, dates, and everything is true. I included real emails and text messages and Facebook conversation. Some events I exaggerated a little to add emphasis or make a dramatic scene. But the story is 99% true. Is this a fiction or a nonfiction? I label it fiction because it is not 100% true. What are your thoughts on what my book genre should be? I blog frequently and I seriously appreciate your information. The article has truly peaked my interest. I will book mark your website and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well. Writer's Relief Staff says: Sally, would that be roman à clef? Sally says: Question: I came across a French word for a novel/fiction based on real events. What’s the word? Thank you Jim "Old School" says: September 29, 2015 at 12:41 pm Thanks for the reply. A Memoir it is. It’s 100% a nonfiction category, based on a true story. I’ve taken lots of notes.

I’m in the process of completing the book by year-end, or later. I will be checking out the Creative Nonfiction: How To Stay Out Of Trouble; the query letter site, the querying literary agents site; it will definitely be “a story inspired by real-life events” – and, I will definite be calling on and using your team of submission strategists. I also will be looking and learning more about constructing my proposal or query/cover letter. I will be getting more information on the ineligible for publication, and your free publishing tool kit for writing tips! I want to be on the right path, going in the right direction, when I’ve completed and ready to take the necessary steps with my manuscript. In order to do this the right way, I must acquire an Agent. I’m all in for an agent; especially, one who is very helpful and interested in representing my book project. Whoever he or she will be, I trust that they will help me navigate through all of this, and market it properly. I guess working with Literary Agents and Agencies will insure that my manuscript gets to a publisher’s desk. ASAP! I will seriously check out a variety of agents online.

I have overwhelmingly found your article and this site to be very helpful in my quest as an Author and getting this categorizing Memoir (book) published! Writer's Relief Staff says: Jim, that sounds like a memoir to us! Jim "Old School" says: September 29, 2015 at 7:13 am Hello. I also appreciate your blog, sincerely. I am writing a book based on the many transformations my life as a baby-boomer from the 50s till now. From birth in the South, migration to the north, and the struggles, life experiences, the diversity of cultural fun and experiences I’ve had and the business successes I’ve grown to be. There are numerous inspiring messages for people of all ages and races. The reason I am writing this book is because I’ve learned so many things during my life span. I want to share those things with America and help motivate people in all walks of life. I believe I have arrived in my life enough to share my story by writing a book and getting it published. The Book is total about my life with real events that occurred.

Places are names i.e., schools attended; There are names named i.e., my mother, father, aunt, grandparents and great grandparent. Names and addresses of streets I’ve lived and housing communities (projects). It’s a 100% true story; (factual account) nothing is fabricated. The events are accurately portrayed. It is definitely “based on a true story” and “based on my life…” There’s not much dialogue – what little, if any isn’t line-by-line accurate. There are quotes. It has much of a historical tone to it because much of when I lived, where I live and the experiences I encounter were historical events, places and paradigms. The genre I believe will be ??? Thanks for your ear and responses. Writer's Relief Staff says: Kay, we certainly believe you can write this book and get it published! If you need help, try some of our writing tips ! As for genre, this seems to have all the makings of a memoir. Writer's Relief Staff says: That sounds like a memoir to us, supergirl. Try our free publishing tool kit for writing tips ! kay says: September 7, 2015 at 10:35 am Hi.

I really appreciate your blog. I am starting to write a book based on my story. The struggle i had and going through right now, based on that but still there are inspiring messages for people. The reason i am writing this book is because i learned so many things during struggle and changed my mentality. I want to share those things to world and help & motivate people especially young who can get some idea about dealing with problems in life so that they wont make the same mistake which i did. Also I want to make little bit money out of it as well. Now I havent suceeded in my life yet so do you think at this point I can still write a book and publish it ? If so, then what genre will be. Thanks.

supergrl says: September 5, 2015 at 8:15 am i am planning t o write a complete story of my life with all the details in it.some of them maybe problematic for :p bt i dont want it to be a boring one neither do i want to alter any part of it.that s y i am thinkin to write it in sub stories and then collecting it in one book.and to make it good to read i will write it in a beautiful way by using good pharses for which i will be getting help.but i am still not sure wht wil it be called.(genre) n how should i start wrting it as it is my first piece and i am not writng it for a professional thing but for a less social purpose. n after completeing dis.i wil write short stories or memoirs based on d same. if i cn get any suggestion advice or help i wil b grateful regards Because you have added some fictional elements, we would recommend categorizing your book as a novel.

Rodney Hill says: August 2, 2015 at 8:06 pm I’m writing my first book based on some truth and non truth, the people, places and names are being changed, and the characters true professions have changed, but it also has a message at the end, sort of a self-help/non-fiction theme. My only concern is how do I categorize this book genre. It’s a cross between my real life story,as much as I can remember. It’s a story about one’s journey in life and I have gathered much strength and inspiration from OG MANDINO’S, The Greatest miracle in the world and his second book, The choice. Any assistance in calling this a self-help /non fiction or novel. Thanks, Rodney Writer's Relief Staff says: May 24, 2015 at 5:05 pm When I used to teach university English before moving over to Philosophy, it was generally held that the “fiction-non-fiction” gap was critical. This entered the realms of privacy (for possible instances of tort). From the philosophical stance of idealism, everything is memoir whether you like it or not. (n.b.

I’m NOT an idealist.) Shay says: May 11, 2015 at 12:28 am I’m still unsure of what to call my story. It’s about a supernatural experience my mom said to have had. She isn’t really the impulsive liar type, and her story seems true. Though, some people don’t believe in ghosts and may call me a joke. I’m not sure if calling it fiction will insult her or not so… Any ideas? Writer's Relief Staff says: December 30, 2014 at 9:28 am Hi Gale, You’re welcome to personally call a body of work whatever you want. However, when you’re approaching editors or literary agents, they ask for an identifying genre between fiction, memoir, and other nonfiction. It’s important for how they see your book being marketed. Sincerely, December 28, 2014 at 2:50 pm Why can’t you call it whatever you want? I think A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius broke some barriers here. I have heard of “fictionography” and other such terms; these days, why can’t you call it whatever you think it is?

Antonio Boyd says: I’m writing a Book on my life of real events that happened if I changed the places and names of the story would it be fiction or non fiction Patricia Stefan says: October 7, 2014 at 10:54 am I’ve written a memoir and now after reading this site I wonder if legally I need to write a novel. Much of my memoir is based on criminal acts perpetrated by a relative, and how that altered the course of my life. I reported the crimes to authorities. It’s considered a cold case with an ongoing investigation. I wouldn’t be able to mention the person’s name nor details of their criminal acts. I changed the names of people in the memoir. However I don’t believe it’s enough to change the names and details of the criminal acts. I wonder if it could be written as a true life novel. Wendy says: June 16, 2014 at 1:26 pm I’ve been looking over some of the comments and it’s made me realize there’s a significant area that hasn’t been addressed: Narrative history.

When time has made it impossible to verify certain details (like what goes on in a specific conversation, or if you have equally contradictory versions of an event), how much can you guess about before you cross the line into fiction? August 15, 2013 at 7:53 am Thank you for going a long way towards clarifying this issue. I have written what I called an “historical novel” as it involves “true” events and characters in history from ancient times down to the mid-twentieth century, but my main characters are the fictional ones. I never once thought that I should call it “fiction based on fact” or something like that. Now I’m writing what I call a “memoir” and struggling with the need to change names (even if people have passed away) and even modify events slightly .. though after all each person’s memory of the same event usually differs. Even with these changes, I’m glad a can still call it a “memoir”. Writer's Relief Staff says: May 1, 2013 at 10:48 am Dear Akim, we’re happy to hear you found our article helpful!

Because we help authors seek publication for already-written works, we can’t offer you any specific advice on how to pitch a story line. You might find some helpful information in this article though: Pick Your Pathway: How To Turn Your Book Into A Movie . Akim Crouch says: April 26, 2013 at 10:21 am Thanks for this information. I have always been confused about how I should address my writings, I am now very clear on what my genre is. I like to loosely base my writing on real life experiences with ellaborations to spice up or have a lesson to it all ending. I also have a question. I have many ideas for books or screen plays but don’t necessarily won’t to write about it. Is there any way to sale or pitch a story line? Writers Relief Staff says: February 19, 2013 at 8:57 am Hi Marisa, actually, you wouldn’t send your work directly to publishers, but to literary agents and agencies. Publishers almost never take unsolicited work, so you need to send your work out to agents and hope they become interested in representing your work.

The agent, in turn, would be the one to pitch your work to publishers and get you the best publication possible. Check out a wide variety of agents online and be sure to read their guidelines to see who prefers what genres/subgenres! Marisa says: February 15, 2013 at 1:45 am Hi, Thanks for the clarification! I was unsure whether to do my writings as a memoir or a novel and have chosen to take the novel route. I was curious though as to what steps I would take once finished with my proposal. How do I go about making sure it gets to a publishers desk? I can mail it to different publishers but how can I be sure that it’s going to get read? Thank you February 7, 2013 at 4:38 pm Michelle B., Thanks for your questions. You won’t get in any trouble for presenting your manuscript as truth-based fiction, but you’re probably also safe to call it a memoir. As we state in the first point of the article, a memoir is still a memoir if names are changed or dialogue isn’t line-by-line accurate (as long as you’re clear about that when querying agents).

But you won’t be expected to remember every detail perfectly as long as you’ve written an accurate representation of people and events, and you’ve done your best to be as accurate as possible. And, keep in mind, if an agent is interested in representing your book project, he or she will help you navigate how exactly to choose the genre and market it properly. In regard to your second question, we can’t really respond to that specific a legal issue. We try to cover a general-safety overview of topics for writers, but we can’t respond to your specific case. You’ll need to seek counsel from a legal expert, or just fictionalize some of those people, places, or events that might make those individuals easily recognizable. Hope this helps, and best of luck! February 7, 2013 at 3:53 pm Also, I know that in order to protect yourself from libel, you must change the names of the characters and identifying characteristics, i.e. job, school they went to, etc.

But since my novel is based on true events and people, the events alone are enough for people who are familiar with some of the events in the book, for example, a main character’s group of real-life friends, to identify him as the character if they know that I wrote the book. Am I reaching too far? Or is this a valid concern? February 7, 2013 at 3:39 pm This may be redundant to the comments and article above but I just wanted to clarify to be absolutely certain: I know you can into legal trouble for labeling something that is actually fiction as non-fiction, but can you also get into trouble for labeling something as fiction that is actually non-fiction? I ask because the story I am writing is based very closely on my own personal experiences. The majority of it has actually happened, the characters are based on real people, etc., but I have invented some conversations that I didn’t remember specifically, changed names, etc. I would prefer to pitch this as a novel “based on true” events, but wanted to make sure I could still do this when the majority of the story is true. Thanks for the help and for the article!

Writers Relief Staff says: January 7, 2013 at 12:04 pm Hi Elizabeth, I’ll see if I can answer all of your questions! From what I’m reading, you’ll want to label your book as fiction. “Nonfiction” suggestions that the book is nothing but the truth, so you can’t label it as that, and “creative nonfiction” still requires the events to be accurately portrayed, so you can’t quite call it that either. It would be best to truthfully note it as a fictitious piece, but note in the query letter that it is “based on a true story” or “based on my life…”, etc. That way, you’re not restricted by the facts, yet you can still use them for inspiration. Unfortunately, we do not do content editing at Writer’s Relief, so we cannot take a look at the book and critique it. Before you send it to a professional company, try letting a few close friends/relatives read it and see what they think. Books can go through many, many revisions before they’re truly complete, so it’s best to get as many opinions as possible.

Don’t post it on the internet, however; you don’t want it going public and becoming ineligible for publication ! If you’re looking for some tips, check out our FREE Publishing Tool Kit . You’ll find a myriad of useful articles there that can answer some of your questions. Hope this helped, and keep writing! Writers Relief Staff says: January 7, 2013 at 8:54 am Hi Elizabeth, great question! However, your issue may not be as simple as Dutch vs. English writing, but to whom your writing is targeted! If your writing has primarily foreign themes, they might not go over as well for English readers who are unfamiliar with certain customs or traditions. However, if you work is more mainstream, or deals with foreign affairs in a manner that “teaches,” rather than honoring, certain customs, targeting your work to English readers would probably be the way to go. Look over your writing and see who would benefit more from your work: English readers or those who read Dutch? Elizabeth says: January 6, 2013 at 6:59 pm To add to the above, I am dutch and writing in english as I have lived abroad a long time.

But right now I am getting unsure about the language, should I stick with english or go with dutch even though it is not my strongest? Could it be true that there is more interest if I write in dutch?? (as there is more english writers out there…) Or is this a really silly question? God, how insecure can someone be right? ;) Elizabeth says: January 6, 2013 at 6:55 pm Hi all, I am very happy to have found this website and especially this post. I have very recently started to write a book. Well at least I think it is that, or will be one day. The thing is, I have written all my life, poems and songs, which people seem to really enjoy. But this is my first attempt in writing a story. As much as I did not want to really write my own memoirs, it has turned into just that. But it will not be all non fiction, so it should be read as a first person novel, as someone outlined above. I am having difficulty though with how much to tell, and how much to make up as I go along.

I am finding that I am already telling an awfull lot about myself, and as it is a story based on a “town” that is so recognisable to the people there, I am getting scared as I get on with the story. I do not want to change things, as I think that my text so far is quite good, and the character has actually moved into a new country now with much more privacy on that hand, I think I can get away with it. But I still wonder, where do I lay down the line between fiction and non fiction and do writers get scared and is that ok? I also would love for someone to read the first few chapters to see what they think, but I am very unsure who to send it to and who to trust and all that. Could someone give me tips? (and yes this whole post is very neurotic – you should see the book) ;) Writers Relief Staff says: December 19, 2012 at 10:13 am Hi Jane, Great question! This book would simply fall under the “Fiction” category, so that’s how your proposal should be labeled.

In your proposal or query/cover letter, you can note, as close to the top as possible, that, despite the work being fictitious, it is based on a true story. Even “Creative Nonfiction” is a stretch, since the point of view is from a dog (or any animal in general), and the reactions and perceptions cannot be accurately assumed. Obviously, there are some exceptions to this rule, but in this case, it’s best to follow the advice of your evaluator. Hope this helped, and keep writing! December 19, 2012 at 1:05 am When I’m writing my proposal for a work of fiction based on a true story, should I write a “fiction” proposal? Various ‘problems’ prompted me to write the book, which is written largely as a narrative with other facts and stories woven in. However, I was told by my (non-fiction) proposal evaluator that the fact that the “voice” of the book is a dog requires me to write it as “fiction based on a true story.” I don’t always see the category “fiction based on a true story.” Thanks in advance.

July 26, 2012 at 10:37 am What a terrific post! I have definitely been dealing with these questions in a lot of my own writing as I utilize people, conversations, and situations from real life all the time in my fiction works. This actually reminds me of a really cool anthology by Herta B. Feely called, “Confessions: Fact or Fiction?” This anthology is an experiment with reader response and desire for literary works to be either fact or fiction. It is a compilation of short stories, some memoir and some fiction, from a variety of authors. However, the reader is not made aware of the genre of any of the stories until the end of the book. Here’s her website if anybody’s interested: confessionsanthology.com Ken says: February 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm I just finished a book called ‘Love Goes To Nam.’ It’s based on my eighteen month tour as part of a Swift Boat, (and other small craft) maintenance crew, in 1967-68. The names of the people have been changed and some of the events have been slightly embellished, as have the conversations and hull numbers.

Who could remember all that was said forty years ago? All the events in the book actually happened. I was planning to promote it as, based on true events, but after reading this, I’m not so sure. Thanks for enlightening me. Writers Relief Staff says: November 14, 2011 at 12:28 pm Carole, Sounds like a great book! Regarding name changes, that is a discussion that a literary agent would be willing to have with you later on in the process. If you leave your book as is and submit as a novel, you can then talk with an interested agent about the best way to revise and pitch to editors. Good luck! Carole Ann Borges says: November 12, 2011 at 10:56 am My book is a pretty much factual account of my being raised on a schooner on the Mississippi River in 1950s.I did receive a couple of encouraging rejections from agents. They both expressed a liking for the book,but said memoirs are a hard sell in today’s economy, especially if not “written by a celebrity”. I’m thinking of just submitting it as a first person novel.

I could say it was based on some aspects of my life living aboard boats.Do I have to change all the names of real people? . Bob says: March 24, 2011 at 6:38 pm My memoir (Whorehouse Diary) has the real working names of all the women who were prostitutes because they used phony names when they were working and most of them are dead anyway. I changed all the names of the men (even the dead ones) because they asked me to. I even used the pictures of the women to prove the accuracy of my memoir. Liane says: Thank you for this article. I have written a children’s story about the struggles a child actually faced, and you have helped me understand how to decide what should be true to life and what to fictionalize. Writers Relief Staff says: Larry, Good question! And, alas, the answer is “it depends.” While nonfiction usually makes up a greater percentage of overall book sales, novels are still viable and known to go viral! Writers Relief Staff says: There are three options. 1. If you’re making stuff up frequently, it’s a novel inspired by real events. 2.

If what you are making up is very minor, if the book is 98% nonfiction, and if your narrative has a nonfiction prose style (as opposed to a novel prose style), you can call the book nonfiction. Feel free in your narrative to say things like “we could imagine a conversation between the two men would go something like this.” That way, the reader will know when you’re moving from strict nonfiction to projecting a possible situation that arose from nonfiction elements. The key is to be clear and honest about what’s fictionalized. You might also write in a forward that conversations have been imagined based on real life events. 3. Take the Richard Zacks approach. Zacks is shelved in nonfiction (see THE PIRATE HUNTER), but his books have the page-turner feel of novels. They are intense and fully imagined. Zacks does offer some hypothetical details based on fact (he will presume that Captain Kidd is crunching over oyster shells on his way to the docks, since shells were deposited as landfill in lower Manhattan and it’s entirely likely that Kidd DID crunch shells under his shoes at some point).

Zacks manages to paint a vivid picture although his book is nonfiction, without bringing in too many truly fictional elements. It may be worth a look for you to check out his technique. larry.welke says: But the real question is: What sells- fact or fiction? Tannis Laidlaw says: March 22, 2011 at 3:03 pm re: Gary Knight’s dilemma with his story that took place 500 years ago: My book took place 150 years ago and is now ‘on a desk’ with a publisher (fingers crossed). In the forward I called it ‘faction’ – a story based on true events and characters but necessarily fictionalised as far as conversations and unreported details went. My Afterword spelled out my own journey of discovery about my protagonist and which important bits were inserted to explain the actual history. That’s how I dealt with the problem. B. Butterfly says: March 22, 2011 at 1:21 pm I agree with this article to the fullest.

My stories are most definitely fiction but the first one that I’m halfway finished with has bits of me in it, but real life affections of a secret crush I once had. Thanks for the insight! ^__^ gary knight says: March 22, 2011 at 11:13 am A slightly different problem I have is that I’m writing about real people and real events that occurred over 500 years ago. Yes, I’ve made up a few characters and attributed characteristics to real people who lived who happen to not have been famous. But I’m torn on whether to call it historical fiction after people like Jeff Shaara and others write about history and make up conversations that supposedly occurred that no one except the people directly involved could have recounted. So MUST I call my tome “fiction” or how do supposed historicans get around making up conversations? March 22, 2011 at 9:44 am Thanks for writing this piece. I have written what I am calling a memoir, and by your definition, believe I still can.

There are a few places where casual people I met who have a line or two in the book have names I didn’t remember but other than that all the circumstances of the book happened as told. The book is about an around the world transformational journey I was blessed to take in 1980. Working title “There’s a Lizard On My Ceiling.” if you’d like to read it. Mary Diane says: I’ve had to change the names in my memoir to protect the innocent (and not so innocent). This can be a sticky situation when your life story contains details that may hurt the people you love. Lisa says: March 21, 2011 at 11:14 am My characters don’t come from any one place. I don’t think I’d ever write a character that was based closely on a real person. I use elements of real people and combine them into unique characters. That said, some people read my writing and say, “Oh, this character is based on Uncle So-and-So, isn’t it?” I just laugh and say “If you say so!” Arizona Chick says:

Question: What French term is used for a novel based on real people but under disguised names?
Answer: Roman a Clef