Topic: How much fiction when recounting a true story?

[AmandaSue]

I am trying to write a PB based on actual events.  The story is about an animal hero.  I wanted to do the book from the animals' POV.  This has led to the animals talking and having thoughts and feelings, that, obviously, can't be substantiated.  So how creative can I be with a true story?  Would this be creative non-fiction, or just fiction based on actual events?

Any ideas or examples are appreciated!

[Kurtis]

If it's pitched as a true story you probably won't be able to have the animals talking. But you could say it's inspired by a true story and do that... I believe that was the case with The One and Only Ivan.

[majanecka]

I think of The Incredible Journey.  I think a story like you described would be considered fiction based on actual events or inspired by actual events.  I think animal's POV could still be NF but once the animals start talking in my opinion that moves it into fiction.

[W4HP]

I'm going to say Fiction based on actual events, and it can be done. My suggestion is to keep to the truth for your basic story-line. And be creative with the rest; it may not be exactly the way it happened, but it will be easier to write and add a bit more color to the project.

[Owl]

I think it's fiction inspired by a true story.

[frogs]

I agree that it has to be fiction based on a true story because you can't have animals talking in nonfiction unless it is sounds they are making.


 

[Susan99]

Not sure if you're still looking for an example, but what about Ted Kennedy's book My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C.