Embellishing vs. Lying

While writing a story for an anthology, I stared at the computer screen in shock. Had I turned the corner from non-fiction and become a liar?

The incident I wrote about centered on a crisis of faith in my parent’s lives and a miraculous healing I received as a baby. My mom had shared the account with me many times during my growing up years. Because I couldn’t recall when I’d first heard it, I created the setting in which she first told me.

In other words, I embellished a true story to make it more appealing.

Some non-fiction writers consider this taboo. They contend that since that particular setting never took place, it is unethical to tell it as if it happened that way. That is lying*, they say.

Others believe this practice of creative non-fiction, or embellishing, is fine, as long as you don’t change the facts of the actual story you are sharing or the characters’ personalities.

I wrestled with my conscience over this one for many days and nights.

I emailed several writer friends, talked to my husband, my writer son, and the Lord. I even looked up the word embellish** in the dictionary, to see how horrible a sin I’d be committing if I decided to keep the bejeweled story intact. I re-wrote the story, taking out the setting. It left me dry-souled.

Finally, I called my mom, who was one of the main characters in the story, and read it to her. I should have done this in the first place, but I have this stubborn streak (please don’t tell anyone)…

Mom was fine with my made-up setting. The setting was probable—I was a preteen, and we were cleaning out a closet together—and I upheld the accuracy of our personalities. Furthermore…

I did not falsify any facts about the actual story. My embellishments did not change the account of my miracle; they just gave it a prettier wrapping for the reader to look at. So…

With a clear conscience, I sent it off.

I pray that the editor I submitted it to will buy it, and that many people’s lives will change when they read that God still hands out miracles. After all, that’s my goal for my writing—to draw attention to Jesus, so others will fall as much in love with Him as I have.

I think He, like Mom, is okay with me embellishing His stories a bit.

*Lie: to make an untrue statement with an intent to deceive; something that misleads or deceives.

**Embellish: to make beautiful with ornamentation; decorate. To heighten the attractiveness of by adding ornamental details.

–Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition

At what point does embellishing turn to lying? Do you think there is difference between the two?