Support for Indie Authors discussion

I can't remember this topic coming up before. I am working on a short story that is strongly based on an actual event from my life. It will end up being about 90-95% how it actually happened. I have thought about putting the words "Based On A True Story" at the front.

In this case, we're not talking about anything history changing or earth shattering. Small scale boy shenanigans is about what it adds up to.

What do you guys think? Does it ever matter to you if a fictional story is based on true events?

Personally, I don't mind if a book is based on real events or not. It almost seems irrelevant because I will also assume it has been fictionalised. So. Unless it is non-fiction it's up to the author whether or not he or she acknowledges the inspiration for their work.

As an aside, I think most of our work is inspired indirectly by our lives. Maybe.

It's an interesting point. I have a book I intend to write that is also based on parts of my life. It only affects me, also nothing earth shattering to the outside world. I had definitely thought I would include a "Based on a true story" or similar comment.

(But I do run on the assumption that it doesn't matter what I put-no-one will read it!)

I personally do like things that are based on real events and if I'm reading what I suspect might be based on real events I like to be told that is the case. (It saves me thinking, which hurts)

Some scenes in my latest were based on actual events but it's not completely based on actual events the majority of the story is fictionalized.

It doesn't matter to me if a story is based on actual events or not if a book grabs my attention I will read it whether it's based on a true story or not! So what I am saying is I guess it's up to you whether you want to tag it like that! Sorry not much help! Lol

No, it doesn't matter to me because 98% of each of my books always are from my own real life experiences, but I also mix fictional events with the actual real events so if someone does have a problem with it they don't know which events verbatim happened in real life to me or were fictionalized, unless we have a Q & A about it. But I like adding real life elements throughout verbatim from my life along with the fictional accounts to add authenticity. A book like that would only make me want to read it more. So that's my little two cents, Dwayne. Hope that'll give you some insight.

I swear this has come up before, but I think it was more on the heavy side with someone writing about something that could incriminate, so yeah, this is different. (And we may have deleted that post as a safety precaution)

Personally, based on a true event doesn't mean much to me, but you can totally blame 'found footage' horror for that. I never know what is it isn't really real anymore. But I do think if you've got real world events you're basing your story in, that would make a cool bonus. Either a blog post or an afterword telling a little about the experience.

I guess for people who like to read memoir, it may pull them to the story.

But then again, how many movies about poltergeist, or hauntings are said to be based of real stories. So honestly, it is really up to you if you want to add it or not.

I am mostly a non-fic reader so I enjoy a story more if I know at least some part of it is based on true events. I'm aware that "true" stories are often embellished and Hollywood-ized, but I still prefer them to pure fiction.

Maybe my own story can help:

I wrote a "memoir" based on real events that happened in my life--paranormal events, I should add. I made an effort to clearly state that I had changed names, places, and had to somewhat fictionalize several events that would have identified me. My reasons for remaining anonymous were also stated--mainly, because I wanted to protect the names and places involved. I should add that the reason I wrote this book was to reach out to other kids who have to go through the same ordeals I went through and who are being told that they are "just imagining things".

However, one of the reviews I received made me regret my decision. The reader complained that they could not tell what was real and what was fiction. The way they wrote it made me wonder if they were one of those kids I was trying to reach, but because I had changed some facts, they couldn't tell if my experiences were real or made up, which left them still wondering if their own experiences were "imagined".

By fictionalizing certain parts of the story, did I end up failing to help the very audience I was writing for?

Jane wrote: "As an aside, I think most of our work is inspired indirectly by our lives. Maybe."

A lot of my more serious stories were, at least, inspired by real life events or places.

Amy wrote: "(But I do run on the assumption that it doesn't matter what I put-no-one will read it!)"

Ha ha! Yes, there's that. I know it's one of those that might get a couple of sales right out of the gate, then it will sit around unnoticed until I offer it for free now and again.

Angel wrote: "...but I also mix fictional events with the actual real events so if someone does have a problem with it they don't know which events verbatim happened in real life to me or were fictionalized..."

That's usually what I do, too. My serious stories are nearly always based on something from my life. Generally not more than half the story is true, sometimes only a small bit of it is true. This is my first fictional story that is almost all based on real events.

Christina wrote: "I swear this has come up before, but I think it was more on the heavy side with someone writing about something that could incriminate..."

Now that you mention it, that does sound familiar. It's probably been deleted. That was a long time ago.

Heh. One of my favorite horror films is "the Blair Witch Project". One of my all-time favorite movies was "Fargo". Both claimed to be true. Neither were.

G.G. wrote: "I guess for people who like to read memoir, it may pull them to the story. "

True. If I do put "Based on a True Story" in there, maybe I can somehow market it to people who read memoirs.

Marie wrote: "I am mostly a non-fic reader so I enjoy a story more if I know at least some part of it is based on true events."

Yeah, along with GG's post, I suppose it could help make it more appealing to people who like non-fiction, too.

Alfred wrote: "Maybe my own story can help:

I wrote a "memoir" based on real events that happened in my life--paranormal events, I should add."

I did a book about my paranormal experiences, too. I changed the names of everyone in it (except my wife and the ghosts) and was vague on details about the locations. But, mine is out there purely for entertainment and I'm not concerned if people believe it or not.

The short story in question is going to be for entertainment, too. I don't think anyone is going to be upset if they can't figure out what parts are true and what are not, in this case.

I opened this thread because it said 'based on a true story' - that should tell you something.

India wrote: "I'd have fun trying to guess which was the 5-10% you embellished :)"

Oh, then I won't tell you it is (view spoiler)[the end. The way the events actually ended were not nearly so dramatic. (hide spoiler)]

Anna Faversham wrote: "I opened this thread because it said 'based on a true story' - that should tell you something."

It does. Thanks!

Anna Faversham wrote: "I opened this thread because it said 'based on a true story' - that should tell you something."

Me too!

I don't think it matters one way or the other. As long as it is well written and interesting. Real or not real, I like to be entertained.

Historical fiction and "based on true story" stories are some of my favorite books and I will select them because it says that. I appreciate when the author adds something in the book explaining what was real and what was changed. I've seen it added at the end of each chapter as an end note (which worked well for that series as it was based heavily on a church's history). I've also seen a short note at the end of the book stating where the researching got the information and how it affected his/her writing. I liked those section as much as the books themselves. Of course, I'm the type of person that tries to find this information on the web after seeing a "based on true story" movie because I want to know so it saved me time.

Even if you choose not to put "based on a true story" on the book cover itself, you can definitely mention it in your author's note. Also, what J.S. said.

Most people just like to be entertained, but I do think adding "Based on a True Story" would be a bonus and you can leave the interest up to the reader.

"Based on a true story" from a fiction perspective may leave the reader in a quandary, in my opinion.

You can soften the language if you're not sure by using "Inspired by true events" instead.

Everything is based on a true story because we are, in all ways, the sum of our life experience.

Two quotes that apply:

“You can fire your secretary, divorce your spouse, abandon your children. But they remain your co-author forever.”
~ Ellen Goodman

“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.”
~ Tom Clancy

Kat wrote: "Me too!"

Cool. Thanks!

Janet wrote: "I don't think it matters one way or the other. As long as it is well written and interesting."

*snort* I make no promises on those things. *grin* Thanks!

Rohvannyn wrote: "Even if you choose not to put "based on a true story" on the book cover itself, you can definitely mention it in your author's note. Also, what J.S. said."

It won't be on the cover, but probably on the page before the story starts and possibly in the blurb.

Phillip wrote: ""Based on a true story" from a fiction perspective may leave the reader in a quandary, in my opinion."

Curious. Why?

J.N. wrote: "You can soften the language if you're not sure by using "Inspired by true events" instead."

I do like that. Good suggestion!

Dwayne wrote: "Phillip wrote: ""Based on a true story" from a fiction perspective may leave the reader in a quandary, in my opinion."

Curious. Why?"

I think it would make me curious. If I can jump in on the idea of creating a quandary. It could do that for me as well because my first thought is which true incident, so I would be wondering if it's a big event that I've heard of, say, 9/11, and the author has personal experience about it. It's not a super big thought, but it would be there, and then I might start wondering just what it was. But the curiosity factor is there, so that's a good thing.

Dwayne wrote: "Phillip wrote: ""Based on a true story" from a fiction perspective may leave the reader in a quandary, in my opinion."

Curious. Why?"

To me, reading and identifying with a story based on true events, takes on different perspective from writing pure fiction.

If the story appears to be outlandish, I would probably believe it was fiction, and take it as that. If there are elements in the story that appear believable, it wouldn't matter to me that the story is part fiction.

I think you have to do what feels right to you.

I've never written anything that closely based on the truth (unless you count travel pieces and erudite expositions on the delights of the internal combustion engine when I was still earning a crust).

So. To take a slightly sideways glance at this question. Maybe we shouldn't say when a book is based in fact, perhaps we ought to be saying the opposite.

For some reason reading "based on a true story" reminds me of those hallmark movies... it bring to mind movies about young teachers trying to reform homeless kids or those very Canadian "person survives in the wild" type movies...

I would say it depends on the genre in a big way and as others have said it would depend on what audience you're trying to attract. However, that probably goes more for if you're putting this as a subtitle on the cover of the book or in the book blurb. If it's inside, similar to a dedication or whatever, then I don't think it would have as much of an impact on the audience or the reader expectation...

For me as a reader those little things on the couple of pages before the story starts feel more like personal messages from the author to someone specific, something that doesn't really impact me much as a reader, but maybe that's just me - I'm always in a hurry to start the actual story!

Noor wrote: "...For me as a reader those little things on the couple of pages before the story starts feel more like personal messages from the author to someone specific, something that doesn't really impact me much as a reader, but maybe that's just me - I'm always in a hurry to start the actual story!"

In my case, the whole story was a personal message. Mostly to the kids still living in that house. My brother went back, twenty years later, and toured the house when it was up for sale (it goes up for sale a lot). There was a kid the same age I was sleeping in the same bedroom I slept in going through the same stuff I went through. Unlike me, though, he had shared his experiences with his parents and they believed him...hence the selling of the house.

I guess what I wanted to do with the book was to share all that crazy stuff that happened to me so that the kids who are also going through it would read it and say, "Hey, that happened to me. I'm not crazy after all."

Of course, if you haven't had anything weird ever happen to you, it's still a good story about growing up.

Noor wrote: "I would say it depends on the genre in a big way and as others have said it would depend on what audience you're trying to attract. "

General fiction / literary fiction / coming of age. Readers of those genres tend to appreciate a story that, at least, feels realistic.

M.L., Yeah, in this case, my story is not an event anywhere close to the level of 9/11.

Philip, Part of the reason I am thinking of doing it is that I believe this is a story most anyone can relate to on some level. I'm hoping to pique curiosity enough to get them to read the blurb, at least.