How to Write a Novel – 5 Autobiographical Points

Image by ornellaswouldgo via Flickr It wasn’t until after I’d completed my novel that I heard that a first novel is always autobiographical. Not mine, I thought vainly. Of course,...
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Image by ornellaswouldgo via Flickr

It wasn’t until after I’d completed my novel that I heard that a first novel is always autobiographical.

Not mine, I thought vainly. Of course, I’d written the book after suffering a loss, just like the main character. That much I would admit, no more. But now that I’m less sensitive about my writing, I can see how things really are: my life is plastered all over that story. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, perhaps just inevitable. More importantly, it’s valuable information you can use to write your own story.

Here are 5 autobiographical ‘P’s to consider when writing:

1. Premise. Why write a book at all? Certainly it must be about something in which you have a personal interest – a particular situation, or problem, or something that’s captured your imagination, not just that of your characters. Have you identified what it is?

2. People. From the beginning my main character was a reflection of myself, how I might react in certain situations, how I wanted to explain life. Not until later did I see that I was a large part of every character in my story, even those I’d based on other people. After pondering it off and on over several months, I realized that I was everybody. When they spoke, it was what I would say – or what I thought my characters would say. When they reacted to a situation, it was how I would react, or how I thought they would react. Writing as an individual, this may be inescapable, but it’s at least something of which a writer should be aware.

3. Pain. Every book deals with some sort of problem, some degree of pain. Is your story to explain how you dealt with a difficult problem, or your way of working through a deep-seated pain? Is it about how you wished you would have reacted, or perhaps the tale of someone you’ve admired? Whether your recognize it or not, your writing reflects your personal life.

4. Plot. Since you’re the one writing the book, the story can’t help but be about what you would do or about what you think others would do. There’s no way around it. You only have your own brain to think with, and your thoughts are what will come through in your writing.

5. Place. Though you set your story on the moon, your description and vision will be what you see, even if through your characters eyes. And what you see consists of details, colors, images, that you hope to convey to your readers. Look closely to allow your readers to see your world more clearly.If you’ve already completed your manuscript, think back on how your own life lives in your story. It may help you in the re-writing process or in your next writing project. If you are in the process of writing or about to begin, consider how you can use these elements effectively to bring your own story to life.

If you’ve already completed your manuscript, think back on how your own life lives in your story. It may help you in the re-writing process or in your next writing project. If you are in the process of writing or about to begin, consider how you can use these elements effectively to bring your own story to life.

Copyright © 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD 

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