Don’t ask if fiction is biographical!
Call it one of my pet peeves, but I really hate it when, after letting someone read a work of fiction that I have written, the first question they ask is: "Is this based on your own life?" Why do I hate that question so much? Because if it’s obviously a work of fiction, then no, it’s not based on any part of my life. If a short story resembles my life, it is purely coincidence and nothing I planned ahead of time.
However, before I continue, I will add that such a question about the connection between a piece of fiction and the author’s life is not totally irrelevant. There is an entire line of literary criticism that asks that precise question, and then goes on to interpret the work based on the author’s life and the events surrounding his/her life. I have always had a strong distaste for such criticism because it only goes skin deep and relies on arbitrary connections.
This question is also common at book signings and readings, where one person will inevitably ask the poor author if the book he/she is peddling is based on his/her life. If I had a dollar for every article and essay I have read about such incidents, and how they drive the author in question crazy, I probably wouldn’t have to work.
What is to blame for this problem? Personally, I like to blame pop culture and the media, which usually looks for easy connections to bring the work down a level. Maybe that means I’m one of those literary elitists that everyone hates so much, or maybe it just means I like my fiction to remain fiction.
So the next time you read a work of fiction handed to you by a friend, classmate, family member or someone from your writing group, find a different question to ask. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it much more!
Related Posts
- Plot Vs. Character based fiction
- Mixing Fiction and Politics
- How ebooks can enhance your reading experience
- Nigerian author picked for fiction prize
- Literary criticism being shaped by Google
Read More: Writing
