Are My Stories Autobiographical?

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

I’ve been asked this question on several occasions. For many authors, their stories, especially their first ones, are indeed autobiographical.

So I pondered this question and compared myself to the hero of my first novel, Michael Archer. Michael used to drink, so we have that in common.

But Michael lied, cheated, stole, assaulted and may have killed in his past. Some of that applied to me but not all of it.

I could see parts of me in Michael and in the other characters in the book. And my life experiences influenced the story. So did my research.

But in no way is Journey to Riverbend as the story of my life.

On the other hand, one of my other stories (unpublished so far), about a man who helps his son deal with the sudden disappearance of the son’s wife, is very personal. For the longest time I could not identify why.

The writing of the story flowed smoothly. Characters came to life and shared their stories. Settings had a realism that enhanced the characters and the plot. The twists and turns came at the right times and with the right tension and emotion. Several re-writes improved it immensely.

The problem came when I had to read it aloud at critique groups or when I read chunks of it to my self in the editing process. I couldn’t read without choking up and fighting tears. In groups, others would have to take over the reading.

I struggled and prayed, asking God why this story, of all my stories, affected me this intensely.

Finally, the answer came. The reason this story slams me the way it does, and the reason I had to write it, is I had never finished the grieving process over the loss of our son over twenty years ago. I thought I had. But this story digs deeper into my heart than any other and shows the wounds and hurts I’d never dealt with.

This story completed God’s healing process for me.

In this sense, it is the most autobiographical of my stories because it reveals more of me than any other.

How about you? How autobiographical are your stories?

Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest. 

He serves as Associate Director of North Texas Christian Writers. 

Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers. 

Connect with Henry on his blog, Twitter and Facebook.