One of the first things I heard when I began my writing career was to “write what you know” If I did that I would have a short career. My life and what I have learned from it however does affect my writing in small ways. Ways I've only just begun to realize.
My first three books were set in Boston. This is were I was born and raised. I set it in the Boston that I knew, even though I haven't lived there in about twenty five years.. However times change and the city changes, but I called one of my brothers who helped verify such things as streets and buildings and their current locations. I am a visual person, I have to be able to see in my mind what I am writing.
That comes in handy when I travel, ten years ago we took a trip to Eastern Europe and took the overnight train from Prague to Warsaw. Nothing like riding a train straight out of an Agatha Christie mystery to spark your imagination. On a recent trip to Paris I was able to get some ideas for a follow up to my recent book THE MAN IN THE MIRROR. Now available on Kindle, the Nook and at Smashwords.com.
Back to writing what you know-I don't believe in it. I do believe that the things you experience in every day life, no matter how small, can spark an authors imagination in countless ways. What do you think?
8 comments:
Elaine, good point!
I forget who said, "Write what you WANT to know." For many aspects of my stories, that's what I have do. I love to do research - thank goodness!
With all your travels seems you have a lot of very interesting places and modes of travel that you know about. Eastern Europe, how exciting!
Elaine, Experiences add to our knowledge. I know what it feels like to stand in awe looking over the Grand Canyon in winter - snow coating the trees; sensing the ancient culture at Chaco Canyon or Stonehenge; wondering at the artistry at Roslyn Chapel or Canterbury Cathedral. Without our experiences, the feelings they evoke, our writing about what we know would lack substance.
I can only imagine what it would be like to ride on a train straight out of an Agatha Christie mystery - and my imagination tells me it would be inspiring.
It would be wonderful. When we were in Paris I received the ultimate compliment from my then 18 yr old niece. She is also a writer and we were walking around and I was telling her my story. We were in this huge room with statues of I believe where Roman gods and goddesses. I told her what I thought would happen in that room and she said, "Coolness"
Diana-
Eastern Europe was a lot of fun. My husband has a few adopted uncles living there and it was cool to finally meet them. It was like a mini history lesson. These people lived through Hitler, Stalin and now democracy,
Sarah-
I love to do research as well. In another life my husband was a reference librarian. He wouldn't do my research for me but he did show me how to do my own.
I like to think in terms of "write what you LOVE." That is where the "voice" comes into play, I think, when a writer finds their passion.
My own comment was "write what you know...and what you don't know learn." Travel has always been one of the best ways to do that learning.
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