If I can give you advice on anything, I’d have to say write about what you know—and what you don’t know. It took me over forty years to realize that most people don’t analyze things as much as I do.

In April, a friend told me I was making him crazy with all of my questions. He paused, looked me in the eyes and said, “But you’re a writer. That’s what you do.” Another friend commented on how I’ve got every detail of our conversations memorized, and another on how I tend to beat a dead horse until I understand why it’s dead. I didn’t like the analogy, but I got the point.

These days, I call the beating of “dead horses” investigations. It cuts down on a lot of research time.

Self as Research. Others as Research.

I don’t think it has a lot to do with my being a writer, but it sure comes in handy when I’m thinking about characters, setting and plot.

Now, just wait a minute, You’re writing about me?

Well, yes and no. Most of the time, you wouldn’t be able to pick yourself out of my stories. Where else do you think writers get ideas and inspiration? I’ve warned you about this before, but here’s a continuation of the topic. 

The first rule is to write about what you know.

Most people don’t really get this—obviously I don’t write about teachers or growing up in a trailer court or renovating houses with YoutTube videos as my guide. What I do know is emotion—desire, jealousy, greed, passion, and hilarity. I’m really good at writing independent female characters who don’t give a pooh about what others think—who fail at relationships and have no trouble moving on. But wouldn’t it get boring if I kept writing about the same thing from the same point of view?

I also know you. You might find familiar character tics and mannerisms, physical attributes and snippets of conversations. You might recognize a setting, facts or scenarios. Let me assure you that none of the characters in my fiction really are any one person, past or present, that I know.

Here’s an interesting article that discusses more on this topic

** None of the characters are “me” either, but they might have facets of my personality—mixed in with yours and some crazy ideas that come to mind when I least expect them—surprise dinner guests, let’s say.

Now What? 

The scaffolding– “feelings” I’ve experienced and a good sense of my characters (some of which might be loosely based on you)–is set up, but something’s missing…

The second rule is to write about what you don’t know.

Strong and interesting writing requires a great deal more than what I know. This is where you guys come in handy. Now I need a denturist’s knowledge of plaster casting, a coffee bean connoisseur’s expertise, or a father’s affection for his teenage daughter. I don’t “know” these things, but you do. Thanks to you for sharing your knowledge and thanks to Google for helping with what I can’t glean from real people.

“Writing requires letting our minds sprawl into unknown and unforeseen territories. We can’t limit ourselves to what we know. Instead, be open to what you want to know, what your characters know, and the great body of experiences some other writer before you has known.”

(Excerpt taken from https://nybookeditors.com/2013/09/write-what-you-know/)

So, once I’ve got your “knowledge” I need it to transcend history and fact. Now, I’ll mold it into my story frame and it will take on a life of its own. You should read this post if you’re interested in learning more. This

Final THoughts

Friends, family, acquaintances, friendly guy at the gas station, neighbours past and present, and strangers, thank you for the inspiration to. And thanks for answering my incessant questions. There will likely be another interrogation soon…