What is the Difference Between Writing a Fictional Mystery and a Non-fiction Memoir

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Official Book Launch January 1, 2021

Available for pre-order

Click here to discover more books by JQ Rose at the BWL Publishing JQRose Author's Page

Hello and welcome to the BWL Publishing Insiders Blog! I am J.Q. Rose whose purpose is to Focus on Story in my writing. In other words, I am a storyteller. Today, we'll discuss the differences between telling a mystery vs a memoir.

What is the Difference Between Writing a Fictional Mystery and a Non-fiction Memoir?

I have written mysteries to entertain readers and myself. Making up a story is so much fun. A memoir, also known as creative non-fiction, is so different from writing fiction where everything is made up. The writer can go hog-wild and write about alien worlds, space operas, contemporary romance and no one cares if it's true. Readers are willing to dispel their disbelief and step into the world of make-believe.

A memoir tells the truth about real life. That is very difficult for a fiction writer! A memoir only covers a slice of life, not the entire person's life from beginning to present. 

The flower shop and greenhouses the first day we visited in July 1975.

I wrote my memoir about the year we moved to Michigan in 1976 to purchase a flower shop and greenhouse operating. I thought this would be for my kids and grandkids to satisfy their curiosity. Not only to let them know about the "good ole days," but I also wanted to encourage our kids to dream big for their lives. That was our dream--to be entrepreneurs in the greenhouse business. We fell in love with a greenhouse operation in West Michigan, but it was attached to a flower shop. We knew nothing about operating a flower shop, and to be honest, my husband, Ted, had only worked in his little hobby greenhouse. Never in a commercial greenhouse business. We had lots to learn.

Ted and I in 1986

As I wrote about our passion to become entrepreneurs, I realized the story contained the elements of fiction such as character, conflict and setting. The character was me. The situation provided plenty of conflict between the previous owner and us. Not knowing a thing about business or floral design created anxiety about whether we could run a successful business. I was also a new mom who was insecure about taking care of a baby and filled with guilt choosing to go to work rather than staying at home with her. I knew a lot about third-graders because I was a school teacher. In my heart, I wished my baby would be 8 years old because I knew about 8-year-olds. The setting was a small town, exactly like the ones in my mysteries, Deadly Undertaking and Dangerous Sanctuary. 

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir by JQ Rose

I have penned two novels based on my life story. Arranging a Dream: A Memoir is my true story. I interacted with real people in a real town, but I changed some of their names to protect their privacy. Both books contain elements of fiction with interesting characters, colorful descriptions of the setting, and conflict. 

Deadly Undertaking--a cozy mystery
Fiction

Deadly Undertaking is based on a version of my life. The setting of this romantic suspense is a funeral home. My dad was a funeral director. Many of the jobs I mentioned in the story are ones I did for my dad, such as dusting caskets, running errands and helping my mom set up flowers for visitations and church services. ( a foreshadowing of my future in the flower business??) But there was no murder or Henry the Shadow Man in my real life!

I enjoyed writing both books, but the deep dive into looking back at my real life through the perspective of time proved to identify truths that I had never realized until I completed the book. The journey of writing a life story may be a difficult one, but a better understanding of your life brings satisfaction and a sense of wrapping up the loose ends in that period of life, similar to the satisfaction when reading the closing pages of a good fictional book.

I hope you will take some time to sit down and filter through your memories. Write down or record them on your phone. Start with those family stories that are told every time your family gathers together at family dinner; the ones the kids stay to listen to. It is so much fun sharing the good old days with friends and family and getting their perspectives on what occurred so many years ago. Believe me, each person will have a different recollection about past experiences, even if you were there with them.

Do you enjoy reading memoirs? Do you prefer reading fiction to non-fiction books? Are you ready to dive in and start writing some of the experiences you have had in your life story?

About JQ Rose:

JQ Rose, author

Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.”  She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her mystery novels. Her published mysteries are Deadly Undertaking, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard and Dangerous Sanctuary released by Books We Love Publishing. Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information with articles featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines. 

J.Q. taught elementary school for several years and never lost the love for teaching passed down from her teacher grandmother and mother. She satisfies that aspect of her character by presenting workshops on Writing Your Life Story.

 Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law,  four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.

Connect online with JQ Rose:

Focused on Story Blog

Facebook

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