Autofiction (novel)

Autofiction is a genre of novelistic writing that deliberately blurs the lines between autobiography and fiction. The term, coined by French writer Serge Doubrovsky in 1977 to describe his novel Fils, refers to fiction that incorporates the author's own life as its primary subject matter, but with an understanding that the narrative is constructed and not necessarily a factual record of events.

Key characteristics of autofiction include:

• Self as Subject: The author's life and experiences are central to the narrative. The protagonist is often a thinly veiled version of the author themselves, sharing their name, background, or biographical details.
• Blurring of Fact and Fiction: While drawing heavily from the author's life, autofiction does not claim to be pure autobiography. Elements of invention, exaggeration, speculation, and restructuring of events are often employed.
• Emphasis on Subjectivity: The focus is on the author's inner world, feelings, and perceptions of events, rather than a purely objective recounting of facts. The narrative is filtered through the author's subjective lens.
• Exploration of Identity: Autofiction often explores themes of identity, memory, trauma, relationships, and the challenges of representing the self in writing.
• Self-Awareness and Reflexivity: Authors often acknowledge the constructed nature of the narrative and grapple with the ethical and representational challenges of writing about their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Autofiction differs from traditional autobiography in its embrace of fictional techniques and its willingness to depart from strict factual accuracy. It also differs from conventional fiction in its overt reliance on the author's personal experience as its core material. The genre has become increasingly popular in contemporary literature, raising questions about the nature of truth, memory, and representation in storytelling.