Writing Fiction About Real People: What You Need To Know

When a real-life person inspires you to write a story, how do you balance truth with fiction? It's a difficult challenge, especially if you have a personal relationship with your subject. But it's not impossible.

New York Times-bestselling author John Searles spent two decades as a top editor for Cosmopolitan magazine, first hired by Helen Gurley Brown—the editor-in-chief credited with revitalizing the dying title in the 1960s. In his time at the magazine, John would joke to Helen that he would one day write a book about her. Now he has with his new bestselling novel, Single Girls.

In this episode, John discusses the challenges of writing about real people, navigating switching genre lanes, honoring real people with fiction they would've loved, and more.