Write What You Don’t Know. Whether you like it or not, fiction holds a higher expectation. It’s advice that is passed down from English Teacher to English Teacher, in the hopes that their students can write a passable essay. Confidence for a writer is a fleeting thing, so any time that you have it is a comforting time. Write with confidence. However, the well-known axiom may prove to be lacking when a client calls on you to create quality content concerning a topic about which you … Continue reading "How to Write what you DON’T Know" How to Write What You DON’T Know and Not Offend EVERYONE. Write what you don’t know. It’s a process of discovery. Paul entered that magical realm wherein dwell improv comedians, off-the-cuff banquet speakers … and you … If you want to break out of a writing rut, take a look at your past and present work. Paul didn’t know what was coming next in his story. We English speakers are lucky: much of the rest of the world bothers to learn our language. Part of writing is exploring things through stories and characters. But as a writer, you need your inner-child. I can write about having a Baby if I don't get too specific. I draw from the experiences of friends and family, from novels and other short stories, from online research, and—I’ll admit it—from TV shows and movies. When you’re writing what you don’t know, the trick to pulling it off is writing with authority. Never shy away from contacting publishers and writers directly. The more money you are going to spend, the more research you should do. (Okay, maybe a little.) Too many beginning authors get paralyzed by this: "But I don't know … Think about a character that is unlike you: different age, sex, or background. When you want to know something like whether there are paved roads in Uzbekistan’s small villages or what the texture of a palm tree’s trunk is like, include image searches, Google Earth, YouTube and other graphic sources in your repertoire. that will be useful to you. Want to learn about BDSM before you write it? But most of all write what you’d rather not know’. If I hadn’t been going to Chicago, I could have asked a friend who lives there to take pictures of the building’s lobby, but don’t restrict yourself to friends. You aren’t going to plagiarize (of course! This type of thing won’t be at your local library but it might be at a university library and you can get it through inter-library loan if you work at a university or have a friend who does. If it’s a minor detail, even leave a gap in your piece and look it up later to avoid the distraction. We don’t make things up. “Write what you know” is a phrase that has been following me since I started studying creative writing during my undergraduate years. I like Scrivener. Your readers will believe you and go along for the ride. One of the standard pieces of advice given to beginning writers is to "write what you know." I’ve met aspiring writers who want to do this, but they limit their scope to what they do for a living. Sometimes, even having experienced severe trauma, like rape, you can't write about it because you can't remember a thing about it. without knowing quite what you’ll do with it. “Write what you know,” counseled Mark Twain—or was it Ernest Hemingway?—and ever since, both aspiring and accomplished authors have treated this advice as an article of faith, mapping their fiction inside boundaries drawn by direct experience. Be sure to note the date of any images and videos you find so you don’t introduce unintentional anachronisms. When I wanted to know how badly damaged Khan Younis had been by bombings, I searched images of the town rather than look for articles that would specify the attacks it had suffered. 9. Writing what you don’t know. ‘I don’t know how to write,’ I replied. I asked if anyone was from Pakistan and had the great fortune of hosting a smart young woman. Ask strangers for help, even if they live half a world away. Pin. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Jhumpa Lahiri: On Family, Banality, and the Art of Conversation. This type of research takes a lot of time. And doing a little research never hurt anyone. Before you spend time or money on source material, research the author and the work on the Internet. Or, if we do make things up, we employ the deftness and elegance of … In my experience the result is a whole lot more interesting. Write a short scene that features this character or setting. Here’s why. Write What You Don't Know ~ Melanie Dobson Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of twenty historical, time-slip, and suspense stories including Hidden Among the Stars, Catching the Wind, and Chateau of Secrets. My husband is a doctor. From our very first endeavors in creative writing, we’re told to write what we know. Amy Gustine’s short story collection, You Should Pity Us Instead, is available now from Sarabande. After 9 months, and a couple of blog posts, I’ve noticed a few things. Write What You Don’t Know. But even if you take Brett Anthony Johnston’s advice and write what you don’t know, you might be surprised. On Writing What You Don’t Know. How to write about what you don't know? I took up the task of researching from afar in a spirit of experimentation and learned that it was like most undertakings—you have to pick two: cheap, good, or fast. Haven’t you been writing a free-flowing draft every day? There’s nothing easier and more fun and rewarding than that. We’ve heard it over and over: write what you know. By Sarah Penner. On the surface, this is contradictory advice, but it is still true. We all write what we know - how could we not? The question was about description and world building, and she said something that was just brilliant. I attract that. “Write what you know” is an idiom in the creative writing world as common as “show, don’t tell.” These nuggets of writing advice are well meaning, but sometimes, advice without explication can be as useless as a bag of potpourri in a landfill. It’s important writing because it’s part of a permanent record and it lives on the internet forever. You don’t have to know it all when you begin whatever you’re writing. The second type is “prospecting,” or reading, listening and looking at things to learn about a culture/place/era/job, etc. Write as if you know exactly what you’re describing. Here’s what happens when you write what you don’t know. When I started Gates of Fire, I knew absolutely nothing about the ancient Spartans. Instead, I resolved to find out what I could achieve with research. 3 min read. You just have to be courageous, start, and the ideas will grow. You don’t have to have sex with the same gender to put your fantasies down on paper. Track down the author’s contact information through her publisher, social media sites, or public records. And I don’t really know what it’s like to be a 41-year-old woman that has recently been divorced, and is just starting to date again, and feeling frustrated. You don’t have to have it all mapped out. Research: If you want to write about something you aren’t familiar with, research is a good starting point. Here’s the good news: there are ways you can write what you don’t know and still get the details right. People love to talk about their professions and passions. It gives your words confidence and credibility. The internet is a fantastic resource for everything you need to know about anything. So, if you remember, I was also writing for Catch Him & Keep Him at the time. I might use a hobby to develop his character.). Or, if we do make things up, we employ the deftness and elegance of signal phrases. Do you set all of your stories in the same location or time period? Welles actually went to the moon? When I wanted to know what Aga Khan’s campus looked like in 2000 and 2010, I looked at the historical Google Earth images. You don’t know what to write about. Nor is the advice to write what you think people will like. But what if you want to go beyond your expertise? When I read a book or watch a movie, I don’t want a sermon, I want an adventure, an exploration of the human psyche. Are the plotlines fairly similar? Nothing passes as quickly as the memory of not knowing, of the time when you still had to learn whatever it is, of the days you knew dipshit. Consider media such as documentaries and music albums. I couldn’t find that level of specific, personal information anywhere else. You’ve probably heard this old maxim before… write what you know. This point of view is from writer A.J. There is great joy to writing stories and learning something new is a great benefit when we begin to “write what we don’t know”. P.S. Write about jealousy, betrayal, true love, honesty, perseverance. Now I have a friend and direct source in Karachi. Share. No? When I started Gates of Fire, I knew absolutely nothing about the ancient Spartans. While you can write about your local area or have your heroine work the same job you do, you'll have to expand beyond your horizons sooner rather than later. The answer? Did Steinbeck travel across the dust bowl? You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts: Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Melissa Tydell is a freelance writer, content consultant, and blogger who enjoys sharing her love of the written word with others. This strategy also comes in handy when you read a book, such as one of the sociological studies mentioned earlier, and have follow up questions. I have never run or worked in a naturist resort, still I write about it in the Naked Crow books. When researching the U.S. asylum process, I purchased a documentary film on DVD that was well worth the 50 dollars I paid. You should also try to write about things that you know little or nothing about. The Muse enters the picture. Write what you don’t know. Ninety-five percent or more of what I learn doesn’t make it into the story, but because I enjoy learning, and I suspect that everything is tied together, this doesn’t trouble me. I started writing on Medium at the start of 2017. Write what you don’t know. Read fiction by people with a relevant religion, ethnicity, or experience. I often start my novel with characters (either based loosely on people I know, or who I’ve met or even who I’ve glanced walking in the street). Write What You Don’t Know Write What You Don’t Know Writers are creatures of comfort, rituals and rhythms that we are loathe to break. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing 'The year of Living Biblically'. Truth: I love doing that it seems like a shame to say that people... The deftness and elegance of signal phrases you spend time or money on source,. But most of all write what you know. in your piece and look up! A shame to say that creative people can only create art about just. 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