The Writer's Weekly

Good morning one and all.

Today is The Writer's Weekly day. A day for discussion of writers in the media.

I thought I would expand upon an idea I started yesterday.

What is the difference between fiction and creative non-fiction? This discussion was prompted by the number of authors that have recently been "found out.' They have lied in one way or another about the books they've written and this has irked their editors, publishers--oh, and Oprah (God forbid you ever disappoint her!).

So, why is the deception such a big deal?

Hmmm...good question. If Margaret Seltzer had truthfully sold her book as 'fiction' no one would have said boo. But she claimed it was a memoir, apparently because that's the only way she felt she could sell her book, and lied to everyone.

Did that change the quality of her writing? No.

Non-fiction is becoming increasingly popular and Ms. Seltzer may have been right. She wanted to sell her book and though her ways were unscrupulous, it worked.

I have a question though: Why does everything have to be put in a category? Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, mystery novels, classics, biographies, autobiographies...I can see it from a bookstore perspective, maybe it's easier to organize the shelves that way. But seriously, why not just put everything in order of author's last name and have done with it.

Our world is so focused on the need to label everything. And whatever is 'in' is always seen as better. There's a certain snobbery to it all that I just don't like and likely what Ms. Seltzer was reacting to. She was astute in knowing that a memoir would grab the attention of the editors, publishers and, yes, even Oprah.

But would her book have been any less real if she'd made it all up (which of course she did)? Didn't anyone see the irony of the situation? Everyone was moved, enthralled and so on by the book when they thought it was true (whatever 'true' is exactly), but when they found out it was fiction it lost all meaning for them...? What? That makes absolutely no sense.

What about all the other 'fiction' books that they've read that have changed their lives? Ah, there lies the irony! It was all about perception. When the editors, publishers and Oprah thought it was a real story they considered it of more value (and it has no more intrinsic value whatsoever). There lies the snobbery and the ego has come into it all.

When the book was perceived to be a true story everyone identified with the book and with the author. They had an emotional investment in the book that was then shattered when they found out it actually was fiction.

My opinion is this: They should have checked their egos at the door and accepted the book for what it is not what they wanted it to be!

Why are so many people lying to get their books published?

Because that's the only way they feel their books will ever get published, and you know what? I think they may be right.