Grondar

Heya everyone.

I have an assignment for a creative writing class where I have to write an autobiographical essay about a portion of my life.

I opted to write about my experiences with my neighbor, who was around 65+, focusing on our trips to the lake where we would go fishing.

I was thinking of writing the essay through the eyes of my neighbor about myself, but I am wondering if that would still be considered an autobiography, since it seems that my neighbor is actually writing the tale.

For instance.

Instead of writing, "I ran down to my neighbor's car with glee and excitement about the days fishing trip"

I would write:

"As I loaded the fishing rods and tackle box into the backseat of the car, I saw Jimmy emerge from the house with his backpack in hand a smile on his face."

In both cases I am writing about Jimmy (myself), but in the 2nd example I am writing about myself through the eyes of my neighbor.

By doing this, is it still an autobiography?

I am writing about myself, but I am writing about myself through the eyes of my neighbor and what I think he would see and think as a result of me being a part of his life.

I honestly think this would be more interesting and fun to write than me just writing about myself in the first person, but I won't do it if it isn't considered an autobiographical work, because that is what the assignment is.

What are your thoughts on this?

The dictionary defines an autobiography as, "The biography of a person written by that person."

Well, I am writing about myself but I am writing it through the perspective of my neighbor.

Would that still count as being an autobiography, or would it just confuse the hell out of the reader?

Let me give you my opening paragraph to further show what I mean:

I am Jimmy. As you can see the essay is written through the eyes of my neighbor, who was a grown man at the time (and still is).

I am thinking that by using "I" even though "I" is my neighbor, I may be confusing the hell out of the reader, but I don't think perspective matters to the success of the story in this case.

What does matter is that I am assigned to write a autobiography, and I am not sure if what I am thinking of doing is pushing it to much, or if it still would be considered an autobiography, even though the perspective is altered.

What are your thoughts?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I figured this would be more interesting and fun to write, but if it the end result isn't an autobiographical piece, I don't think the professor will accept it.

Thanks much.

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Mael

i don't think it would be considered autobiographical, but that's just my opinion. even though your writing it, your fictionalizing it because your putting it into the perspective of someone else. you have no way of knowing what his thoughts were about what was going on, so you're making up his perspective.

at least that's my opinion.

Grondar

Good point.

I am definitely "fictionalizing" the parts where I would say what he thought and even saw at times.

I guess it may be best to take the safe route and just go with first person, and leave my idea for a personal project.

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it, and it does make a lot of sense.

Also, thanks for the speedy reply so I can start anew without writing the entire thing before finding out I had to go back to square one.

Again, many thanks.

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

World's King

It needs to be written in the first person.

If you write from the eyes of the other person it's in the seond person and that not autobiographic... that's a biography.

I have a degree in English... but that doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about. Ask your professor.

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

laxative

but a biography of oneself is an autobiography, no? I don't think it matters.

I also have a degree in English, and I doubt I know what I'm talking about.

I could only make it about half way through your post.

mrquackers

It doesn't fit the standard definition, but it's an interesting approach. Check with your professor and see if he/she is willing to let you give this approach a try. Sounds interesting!

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"If you're walking on thin ice, you may as well go ahead and dance."

ratbastid

I have a BA in English, and I concur with WK and laxative: what you're looking to do isn't autobiography. Still, ask your prof if you can write it that way. It sounds much more fun and interesting to write and (here's where you sell your prof) to read.

Call it something interesting. Call it an antibiography. Autobiography by the Other. You're inventing a new genre here, so you get to name it.

Loki

y'know Grondar, that seems like a very intersting way of doing it. If your professor argues with you, just point out to him that auto, in its original sense, means self. so essentially, an autobiography is a biography about the self. good luck, and make sure you ask!

Cynthetiq

If The Autobiography of Malcolm X was written by Alex Haley, then why not? Of course don't risk a failing grade for your own "artistic" desires...

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Grondar

Hiya and thanks for the replies!

It turns out I misunderstood the assignment. We were to write a biography about ourselves, but more specifically, we were to write a paper about an event/trip/occurence in our lives that had an influence on us as writers.

So regardless of which method I chose to write about going fishing, it just wasn't meant to be.

I ended up writing about a trip to Robert Frost's farm in Derry, New Hampshire, that I took with my parents over summer break when I was 12.

It worked out pretty well and I think it was a good occurence to write about because there was a lot of good "stuff" there to work with.

I just finished up the paper a few minutes ago and am generally pleased with it.

Sometime I am going to have to write that fishing story through my neighbor's eyes though. If it is good enough maybe I can even give him a copy and see what he thinks.

I do think that would be fun to do, and it also another opportunity for me to do some writing, which I don't do enough of outside of class.

Again, many thanks for the help and suggestions.

This is a great forum and I have been away from the forum scene for a few months, but I am ideally going to be hitting the forums more steadily, as this is easily one of the better communities on the Internet. I also really dig the amount of sub-forums and diversity of topics here. It's like everything in one spot, and it works out incredibly well.

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

QuasiMojo

I think you need a Ghostwriter... That'll take care of everything.

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