The idea of writing a memoir pushed me way out of my comfort zone. So instead of trying to eat the whole elephant in one sitting, I took small bites. - Rachel Trotter

Whether or not you’re writing a memoir or a piece of fiction, it is well known that writers “write what they know.” In many cases, that translates to using real experiences from the author’s own life to help shape or directly inspire certain scenes in their book. For memoir writers, it’s almost all true.

But how true should a memoir be? How much can you really pull from real life if you’re writing a piece of fiction?

First aired February 22, 2024