This is the Problem I am having also I am having trouble remembering some of the details of certain stories in my life but it is based upon my trials and tribulations and big mistakes and choices that I made throughout my life I am not sure if I’m going to let anyone in my family read this before I have names changed and tell them that it is partially fictional

You should definitely do it, Peter!

Hi Susan,

This is a great question! And unfortunately I don’t have a great response–self-publishing platforms have a lot of control over how you can market your work.

Part of the reason there isn’t an “autobiographical fiction” category is because it’s not a unique enough genre. At the end of the day, genre categories are marketing tools, and if there isn’t a large enough difference between biographical and autobiographical fiction (other than who’s writing it), self-publishing services won’t bother with the distinction. You might be able to petition one of those services to create the category, but unless a lot of people are asking for that, you probably won’t have much success.

My best advice is to clarify the book’s genre and intent in the actual book description. Search engine optimization is a major component of online retail sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble; if you hone in on the book’s description and pitch it towards the right audiences, you will be able to make up for the lack of a specific category.

I’m not an expert in KDP or Ingram Spark, so if other authors have more experience working with these platforms, your insight is greatly appreciated.

Best of luck to you and your husband!

I have been assisting my husband who has written a series of books that I have described as an impressionistic account of the people and events of his life as recorded by him in his journals but altered somewhat for the sake of privacy and the exercise of artistic license. As such, I feel they cannot be classified as nonfiction/memoir and are better represented as fictional autobiography/memoir.
A major difficulty arises when submitting the books to self-publishing platforms such as Kindle Direct and Ingram Spark. These platforms do not offer ABF in their listings of categories, nor is there a comparable BISAC subject code. The closest match there is for Biographical Fiction—close, but still not accurate.
Do you have any suggestions for dealing with this?

Thanks

My dilemna is how to deal with incovenient truths. Talking about them can expose loved ones and cause strained relationships or even legal action. But leaving out such material will significantly water down the emotional truth you want to convey.

Hi Sydney, what an interesting idea! I don’t know anybody off the top of my head, however, you are welcome to join our community group on Facebook to discuss your writing ideas! https://www.facebook.com/groups/146546396684638/

Warmest,
Sean

Re: ‘Shot into the darkness.’©SM

Thanks for your tips about writing biographical fiction or ABF. That is always a great “exciter’.
That gave me ana idea, that is not really new, but if it worked could be interesting. Of course, it depends on who is in it.

I would invite someone (who could write) to write a Semi-Biographical-Fiction book. I could write the synopsis as an azimuth, and I would start it, then together, we would finish it. No time no pressure.
Know somebody?
Yes, I ‘know’ how to write. So I would like to pair with someone also who would have some training.
I don’t even need ideas, I lived it.