How to separate fiction from fact? That’s a profound question.
I imagine the more an individual about whom you are writing has written about themselves plus the facts (the who, what, when, where and how) of their lives can certainly demonstrate patterns of behavior. However, each biographer could interpret those patterns in a variety of ways. Thus we have biographies by different authors who reach quite different “takes” on the subject’s life. As we all write we filter the facts through the lens of our own lived experience and add that bias to the mix. I would imagine one can never be totally objective but simply strive for the best rendering based on the information at hand. Citing sources helps the reader understand from where some of the author’s conclusions have sprung. I imagine if a biographer describes a bit of where or how she came to the conclusion that the subject thought or felt a certain way would allow the reader some latitude to decide if that makes sense to them or not.
In a way all writing has to be fiction and all writing has to be fact at the same time.
Very well said, Linda! This is such a difficult issue these days, with biographical fiction becoming a hot commodity. I spoke recently to a biographer who said stiffly that she NEVER read biographical fiction. I wanted to remark that the biography she had written was another kind of fiction, but I didn't bother. I didn't think she would accept the comment. As you say, the "fiction" begins the minute we start to choose and assemble "facts."
How to separate fiction from fact? That’s a profound question.
I imagine the more an individual about whom you are writing has written about themselves plus the facts (the who, what, when, where and how) of their lives can certainly demonstrate patterns of behavior. However, each biographer could interpret those patterns in a variety of ways. Thus we have biographies by different authors who reach quite different “takes” on the subject’s life. As we all write we filter the facts through the lens of our own lived experience and add that bias to the mix. I would imagine one can never be totally objective but simply strive for the best rendering based on the information at hand. Citing sources helps the reader understand from where some of the author’s conclusions have sprung. I imagine if a biographer describes a bit of where or how she came to the conclusion that the subject thought or felt a certain way would allow the reader some latitude to decide if that makes sense to them or not.
In a way all writing has to be fiction and all writing has to be fact at the same time.
Very well said, Linda! This is such a difficult issue these days, with biographical fiction becoming a hot commodity. I spoke recently to a biographer who said stiffly that she NEVER read biographical fiction. I wanted to remark that the biography she had written was another kind of fiction, but I didn't bother. I didn't think she would accept the comment. As you say, the "fiction" begins the minute we start to choose and assemble "facts."