When white lies are good.
How to lie the right way in your writing.
TL;DR Version:
Here are some of the reasons you might need a “white lie” in your writing:
To protect someone’s privacy.
To protect yourself from a lawsuit.
To avoid violating an NDA.
That doesn’t make you a liar. It lets you share your Story for greatest impact without causing damage.
Regular Version:
White lies aren't always bad.
Sometimes they literally change history.
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
Kathrine was worried if she registered under her full name, she would be barred from entering. She decided to creatively edit her name to "K.V. Switzer" so that officials wouldn't know her sex.
White lie? Maybe.
Badass history maker? Definitely.
An iconic photo shows official Jock Semple trying to forcibly remove her from the race. (Don’t worry, her boyfriend at the time pushed him out of the way. Oh, and Kathrine and Jock later became friends.)
What does this have to do with writing?
Something I never see people discuss with memoir/business nonfiction is the fact that you may need some white lies . . . even though you're telling the truth.
For instance, you may need to change someone's name/sex/job title. Usually this is to protect privacy (or to protect you from a lawsuit or from violating an NDA).
Sometimes these small changes to history are necessary for a greater Purpose—to tell your Story when an inconvenient detail stands in the way.
My clients are honest to a fault. So as a book coach, I help them know when to use these white lies so their Story can still have the greatest impact.
(P.S. I read Kathrine's book Marathon Woman last year. You should read it, too.)
If you’re already feeling guilty about the white lies you might need to include in your content, then book a free 20-minute Q&A and let me hear about it.
Until next time, keep telling your story. (Clearly, of course.)
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