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What exactly is autofiction? Why is this buzzword being used so often when talking about literature and why is it dividing literary criticism? Is autofiction the same as confessional or narrative poetry? While some critics reject sincerity itself as having literary qualities, it is easy to make the case that fiction always has an element of auto- to it.
The Finnish poet Susinukke Kosola thinks that sincerity is not interesting without artistic vision and that quality writing should offer more than reproducing the world. Many trendy books have little to offer, and Finnish literary critics are hungry for some real fiction.
Veronika Razpotnik, a poet from Slovenia, says that sincerity is second to genuineness. She points out that a poet doesn’t have to leave her room to write well, and that autofiction is important in reflecting societal structures of late-stage capitalism.
Susinukke Kosola is an author of four books of poetry, a teacher of creative writing and a spoken word poet, founder of the Kolera Collective publishing house, which focuses on poetry and political literature. In 2021, his book Turquoise Zone was nominated for the Dancing Bear Award and nominated for the 2022 Runeberg Award.
Veronika Razpotnik is a poet, writer and a master’s student of French. Her poetry debut Krekspot na požarnih štengah was nominated for Debut of the year in 2022, while her second poetry collection, Sršena pičim nazaj, was published in 2024. In 2023, her short story titled Patrimoni mundial won AirBeletrina’s short story contest.
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