Post 5: Truths in Memoirs

                 If a book is to be categorized under non-fiction, the book should at least be 97% true. The 3% gap in where the non-fiction book does not need to be true is where the author can add in some of the fiction. The author can add small details here and there to keep the readers from falling asleep. The main rule for this exception is that the author mustn't change the MAIN story-line. The facts should still be present, and the main picture/focus of the book intact to the last word of the last sentence.

               Although I believe it is okay to add in a teeny tiny bit of fiction scattered throughout the book, half-truths are big red no. If you are going to bend the truth of your story to publish it, it wouldn't be considered non-fiction any more. It would now be found on a scale of realistic fiction. If you are going to bend the truths (although I don’t recommend so) at least make the bend plausible, while also being close to the actual truth.

                I believe we do need lines between genres. Many readers tend to pick favorite genres, and without the lines, how would we know which book we would or wouldn't like? We could spend $20 on a hardcover book, without knowing whether the book was true or fictional beforehand, and then, 100 pages into the book you realize that you are not interested in the book- which could put any into a reading slump. Although we need the fine lines between genres, many sub-genres or crossover genres would be helpful. For those writers who create a story meant to be non-fiction that turns to be only 95% or less true, should have a genre the book could fall under. A mostly-true-but-also-fiction genre. With genres where books cold be categorized under for those half-and-half, there would be less confliction.