I’ve seen this advice in countless books on writing novels and in creative writing classes. But if it were word-for-word true every book on the shelf would be about writers struggling to write novels. BORING!
Or maybe it wouldn’t be because people wouldn’t know any better. Think about it; Hamlet would be chasing inspiration around the stage instead of his father’s ghost. And Jane Austen would have penned “If I had Sense and Sensibility, I Would Have Chosen Another Way of Life”. Although, if I think about it, ‘The Hunger Games’ might have been written by someone trying to shop a Canadian mall on December 26th. (Don’t get me started.) There would be no science fiction, or fantasy and every murder mystery writer would be suspect.
What they really mean when they say, ‘write what you know’ is to get in touch with your emotional memories and apply them to your story. That’s how people connect to your characters; through their emotions. You might never have been going into a rocket to head into outer space, but the mix of excitement and terror of taking your parents’ car for the first time would bring emotional resonance to the scene. You’ve never had to uncover a murderer, but you probably had to figure out which of the children colored on the wall. You’ve never had to confront a ghost but there are probably many memories you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
Everyone has a wealth of emotional experiences; the highs, the lows, the loves, and the losses. These are the things people can relate to. This is what you know.
If you want to talk more about the creative process and uncover your inner artist, I’m revamping my Facebook community Bohemians & Storytellers. The virtual launch is set to coincide with the release of my new and improved website judietroyansky.com on June 1st.