The stories we weave of our existence...

Writer, Jeffrey Eugenides writes, ‘I'm not really an autobiographical writer, though I use lots of stuff from my life to make my stories seem real. But when I actually write about myself, I get very confused’and I have to admit this fits my experience of writing about my life perfectly. I don’t think anyone has the ability to portray an entirely truthful account of their existence, as past events are always going to be distorted by the way in which that person has perceived and remembered them, and it does then, become incredibly confusing.

Of course, we may attempt to conceal the truth of our existence deliberately when we write about it, I personally wouldn't wish to reveal everything, in an effort to avoid being completely vulnerable. So yes, I do believe there’s a contrast between the truth of our lives and the story we tell of our existence.

But as Eugenides states, ‘I use lots of stuff from my life to make my stories seem real’ and I believe this is something, as writers, we all do. Cheever’s stories ooze his depressed and conflicted character, John Updike writes in a review of Bailey’s biography of Cheever, ‘Cheever’s characters are adult, full of darkness, corruption and confusion’, therefore Cheever’s writing could arguably be considered a truer depiction of his existence than anything else.

And at the end of the day, every writer’s true aim is to create a good story and perhaps truth doesn’t play a particularly vital part in achieving this.