autofiction

[ aw-toh-fik-shuhn ]

noun

1. a genre of novel or short story whose narrator or protagonist is understood to be the author, and which explores the author’s real-life story using the techniques and devices of fiction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of autofiction¹

First recorded in 1975–80; auto- ¹( def ) + fiction ( def )

Example Sentences

The nested-doll structure of Mäkelä’s film speaks to the writer-director’s fascination with the pleasures and perils of autofiction.

From Los Angeles Times

July’s work in film, literature, and performance has always drawn on her personal experience but now, with autofiction reigning as a dominant literary tactic for more than a decade, “All Fours” fits right in with the work of Jenny Offill, Rachel Cusk and the rediscovered Lucia Berlin.

From Seattle Times

He plans to write another novel, in the more experimental form of lyrical autofiction.

From New York Times

It labels Drew’s wildly inventive take on everyone’s favorite Batman villain as “a fair-use comic-book parody/trans autofiction.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mitchell’s recording career, which began in the 1960s, has included her early folk music, the autofiction of her classic albums “Blue” and “Court and Spark,” and the jazz that followed.

From New York Times