Olivia at first refuses the work because she’s “not a fiction writer.” Her father replies, “Of course you’re a fiction writer. You always have been.” What do you think he means? Do you agree with his interpretation?
It almost seems that he knew what would happen with the book as it was published. It was not completely nonfiction!
Hmm, good question. I think it is somewhat layered. I think it may be literal and emotional. With her career she is a ghostwriter and may craft fictional stories under someone else’s name. On a deeper level I think he’s commenting how Olivia has always shaped her own reality. Rationalizing trauma, or telling herself stories to survive emotionally. Certain ways I agree with Vincent, like Olivia needs to stop fictionalizing her past and face the truth.
Olivia’s adult life was certainly fiction. She lied about her family and denied them so she could make a new life for herself. I think Vincent was pointing that out to her. I agree with his interpretation.
All that is already said in the previous postings as well as Olivia had not remembered making up stories. This was yet another clue when she learned the owner of the old family house was an LLC under the fictional name of childhood stories.
All elements of memoir writing have elements of fiction in them. The writing techniques are the same–the way you pull in the reader and pace the story. They both use the same building blocks. But memoirs are also based on memories which are faulty by nature. Every one interviewed has a different recollection. Every moment has multiple perspectives. And then the writer fills in the in-between moments to create transitions. There’s always fiction involved to some degree or another. It’s part of the process. Plus, I believe he was referring to her character and stories from the past. She was a born storyteller.
I am not fully understanding of this quote. Because she wrote little stories as a child, she was a fiction writer? Because she invented characters, she was a fiction writer? Because she took other people stories and wrote them, she was fiction writer? This one I don’t understand.
I think what her father is trying to tell her is that in the long run, people do make up their own stories - or at least spin them - in a way that makes them look best. Consequently, everyone’s story contains a certain amount of fiction. At least that’s my take on the quote.
Olivia did write stories and invent characters as a child, even if she didn’t remember until her father reminded her. In the end, Olivia and her father create a little fiction in the story she helps him write. I also think they reference memories a lot and how they are not always reliable, so everyone has their own somewhat fictional stories that they tell.