| It wasn't until after I'd completed my novel that I | | | | problem, some degree of pain. Is your story to |
| heard that a first novel is always autobiographical. | | | | explain how you dealt with a difficult problem, or |
| Not mine, I thought vainly. Of course, I'd written | | | | your way of working through a deep-seated pain? |
| the book after suffering a loss, just like the main | | | | Is it about how you wished you would have |
| character. That much I would admit, no more. But | | | | reacted, or perhaps the tale of someone you've |
| now that I'm less sensitive about my writing, I | | | | admired? Whether your recognize it or not, your |
| can see how things really are: my life is plastered | | | | writing reflects your personal life. |
| all over that story. I'm not saying that's a bad | | | | 4. Plot. Since you're the one writing the book, the |
| thing, perhaps just inevitable. More importantly, it's | | | | story can't help but be about what you would do |
| valuable information you can use to write your | | | | or about what you think others would do. There's |
| own story. | | | | no way around it. You only have your own brain |
| Here are 5 autobiographical 'P's to consider when | | | | to think with, and your thoughts are what will |
| writing: | | | | come through in your writing. |
| 1. Premise. Why write a book at all? Certainly it | | | | 5. Place. Though you set your story on the moon, |
| must be about something in which you have a | | | | your description and vision will be what you see, |
| personal interest - a particular situation, or | | | | even if through your characters eyes. And what |
| problem, or something that's captured your | | | | you see consists of details, colors, images, that |
| imagination, not just that of your characters. | | | | you hope to convey to your readers. Look |
| Have you identified what it is? | | | | closely to allow your readers to see your world |
| 2. People. From the beginning my main character | | | | more clearly.If you've already completed your |
| was a reflection of myself, how I might react in | | | | manuscript, think back on how your own life lives |
| certain situations, how I wanted to explain life. Not | | | | in your story. It may help you in the re-writing |
| until later did I see that I was a large part of | | | | process or in your next writing project. If you are |
| every character in my story, even those I'd | | | | in the process of writing or about to begin, |
| based on other people. After pondering it off and | | | | consider how you can use these elements |
| on over several months, I realized that I was | | | | effectively to bring your own story to life. |
| everybody. When they spoke, it was what I | | | | If you've already completed your manuscript, |
| would say - or what I thought my characters | | | | think back on how your own life lives in your |
| would say. When they reacted to a situation, it | | | | story. It may help you in the re-writing process or |
| was how I would react, or how I thought they | | | | in your next writing project. If you are in the |
| would react. Writing as an individual, this may be | | | | process of writing or about to begin, consider |
| inescapable, but it's at least something of which a | | | | how you can use these elements effectively to |
| writer should be aware. | | | | bring your own story to life. |
| 3. Pain. Every book deals with some sort of | | | | |