We all know that Hunter stretched the “truth,” while achieving greater truth. In reading about writing memoirs, it’s dawned more and more on me how memoir writers are encouraged to make up conversations  and scenes. This is a fine line, and from the start I didn’t want to make up scenes or conversation. Also, I’m leery of memory.

Fortunately, I have many notes, letters, actual recorded dialogue. I hope it will be crystal clear that if I quote someone it’s literally what the person said because it would be hard to imagine putting words into the mouths of the three outlaw writers that are my subject. And very much against the reason I’m bringing out this memoir, which was to capture as closely as possible the artifacts, anecdotes and the back and forth in which I was involved, of three men who were authentic. Now, being authentic means that someone else cannot, later, “make you up.” Writers reinvent themselves. Faulkner, notably. With the other two (besides Hunter) there were attempts, after the fact, to reinvent them. I was horrified. Fortunately, Hunter took that possibility into account and made sure that after he left us he would become more, not less, visible.

So a memoir writer taking liberties – in hindsight – with what actually happened, without the cutting wit and visceral power of observation that Hunter had, is often going to get further away from the truth, not closer to it.  All this to say I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of “making up” what people said. Fortunately, my editor wanted some scenes, but they jumped right into my head without inventing.