None of us … Your readers will believe you and go along for the ride. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing 'The year of Living Biblically'. We don’t make things up. Share 1. Do you write what you know? P.S. You obviously love to write, so I encourage you to keep writing, and I think in time what you love to write and your love for writing will come together with such force the world will take notice. There are some things you can’t know until you write about them. I might use a hobby to develop his character.). You know, the fun part of the job. Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. 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. Write about what you DON’T know. There’s a fair logic behind many of these: getting stuck with writers’ block is a nightmarish hell, akin to having all your sinuses block up simultaneously while also being creatively constipated. Posted on January 8, 2014 by J Reid. In my experience the result is a whole lot more interesting. Write what you know, and then write what you don’t know. My sister is a therapist. 4 min read. Here are three ways to do it: 1. Write the extraordinary character, the unbelievable situation and the imaginary world. Have you ever tried writing what you don’t know? My mother used to run a business managing rental property. 9. Mark Twain — ‘Write what you know.’ To see what your friends thought of this quote, please sign up! Ruud Hein | March 14th, 2012. To write what you don’t know, try these strategies: There are a lot of ways to organize information, but you need to pick one and stick with it throughout your project. I read all of them for the next five years. But a few years ago, when I was much less sure about my skill, I would actively seek it out and apply other authors’ words of wisdom with a dedication that can only be described as religious. If you don't have any experience about something, you will always get interested about different aspect of it, or present it in a different … Your work will be authentic, you can rely on your experience to tell a more nuanced story, you will save precious hours of research and you will (hopefully) connect with your audience. One day I decided to stop letting fear prevent me from trying to write certain stories, specifically the fear of not knowing things. If you can do this, you might just get away with the fact that other things in your writing don’t quite ring true, like the setting or finer cultural details. But as a writer, you need your inner-child. All fiction writers, especially genre writers, end up having to write what they don't know. Write as if you know exactly what you’re describing. It plays well with MS Word and other formats (rtf, txt) so you aren’t “trapped” in their environment. btb.gc.ca Lors qu e vous rédigez, vous t ra nsmettez de l'information sur un sujet qu e vous maîtrisez . From our very first endeavors in creative writing, we’re told to write what we know. You’ll have a more direct experience and learn things books and articles never mention. Examine your results carefully, freeze-framed and magnified when possible. When you’re mining, find what you need and go back to work. Don’t worry about making your story match everything you’ve heard, researched, or witnessed. It’s usually a good idea to double-check these things with targeted research. Write What You Don't Know. This is a good reminder to verify online research whenever possible. Writing what you don't know and doing it in an informed and imaginative way is what makes the process worthwhile. But what if you want to go beyond your expertise? You need to want to know more. Tweet. Fiction should be all about the imagination. When you write, you transmit information on a topic that you know well. People love to talk and they’ll tell you things you could not possibly have imagined. Don’t worry about making your story match everything you’ve heard, researched, or witnessed. This goes for the publication date of other media as well. 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. How to Write About Something You Know Nothing About. Great advice… Just not for copywriters, and you’ll see why in a second. Look for reviews and abstracts of the work and read whatever you can about the author, including their own Facebook, Twitter, or website. 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. They don’t need to be perfect. Write what you love. But what if you have this great idea for a novel that involves mutant sea life and a brave oceanographer who has the brains and courage to stop the rogue whales from attacking kayakers? Ask Question Asked 4 years, 7 months ago. Be patient and open. 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. Write What You Don't Know I have since learned to take every writing advice with an enormous grain of salt, (which is why I am hesitant to dole my own out). There are plenty of other ideas you could write about. I wanted to write a story set at a U.S. Asylum Office, so I chose Chicago because it’s the closest location to me and I was going there for a weekend anyway. The question was about description and world building, and she said something that was just brilliant. Don’t look for the answer, the answer will be dull. ‘I don’t know how to write,’ I replied. Start asking questions even before you know what you are interested in. By Sarah Penner. But most of all write what you’d rather not know’. And doing a little research never hurt anyone. So don’t write what happened. There’s nothing wrong with that, but by getting outside my comfort zone, I open myself up to discover something new and fresh and fun. The grunt work of research and rewriting can come later. 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. 1 Comment. It's perfectly good advice. Philip Pullman: Don’t Write What You Know “Some people would say “Always write about what you know”. Chances are when you’re faced with the task, you won’t know how to write an obituary because you haven’t done it often.. Use these guidelines and you’ll be able to create a long-lasting tribute to make anyone proud. Like all received wisdom, this is true only to a point. I recently attended a creative writing conference with a … On Writing What You Don’t Know. Email me at hello@brookeadamslaw.com and I’ll give you all the details. Or maybe you do, but you don’t have the motivation to write it. The Muse enters the picture. Now I have a friend and direct source in Karachi. Viewed 566 times 9. These studies of actual people often prove more relevant to the fiction writer, but they are usually published by small university and independent presses, so go beyond libraries and bookstores with a string of online search terms that narrow your interest. Of all the writing advice I’ve come across in recent years, here is the old adage I despise the most: write what you know. Writing on things you don’t know helps you to develop the ability to look at the world like a child does, wide-eyed and staring without an ounce of self-consciousness. I don’t think that’s good advice at all. Write What You Don’t Know. Remember This: Write What You Don't Know By Ken Kesey: Ken Kesey Is the Author ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo'S Nest.'' I’ve never had the experience of running into dinosaurs and giant lizards, and again, in Naked Crow that happens. Sure, there's a vague impression of not being sure and maybe a funny anecdote or two about how you messed something up, but the real specifics are gone.. That's a shame because the people after you would love to know what you found out. Are the plotlines fairly similar? — and others who tout: Write what you know. Write what you know can also just mean that you write from the heart, and that you put across thoughts and emotions on the page that you are familiar with, and know well. WRITE WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. Write What You Don't Know. Write what you don’t know. 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. That’s the first problem. But most of all write what you’d rather not know’. It’s sound advice. He Has Collaborated On A … The more money you are going to spend, the more research you should do. When you see no friend, just a foe, And loneliness creeps on you like never before. Don’t write what you know. There are a lot of ways to organize information, but you need to pick one and stick with it throughout your project. It … Track down the author’s contact information through her publisher, social media sites, or public records. There’s nothing wrong with starting a story from a place you know well, but where you take us should be far beyond your experiences and ultimately, to a … 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. You don’t have to have it all mapped out. My point is this: write what you know, when you have the freedom and capacity to do so. Your imperfections you may show, It may be difficult to hide that scar. But even if you take Brett Anthony Johnston’s advice and write what you don’t know, you might be surprised. Why don’t you know what to write? If you want to break out of a writing rut, take a look at your past and present work. With persistence and ingenuity, you can learn almost anything cheap and well. I can’t always afford the time or money to do on-site research and there are places I wanted to go in my stories—Gaza, 19th-century Poland—that no amount of either would take me to. He Has Collaborated On A Group Novel, Caverns,By the Pseudonymous O. U. Levon. Want to know about gardening for your character the horticulturist? There’s so much richness there. To tell you the truth: I love doing that. Writers are creatures of comfort, rituals and rhythms that we are loathe to break. If you are researching Pakistan, you can plug “Pakistan” into Amazon and get a list of several books, but mainstream books are often written at the macro level of political and cultural features, and fiction writers often need a peak at the micro level: real people, living real lives. I have friends who are teachers, speech therapists, wild life biologists, who work at homeless shelters and manage financial affairs for mentally ill people. The freedom and capacity to do it: 1 it encourages you to write about interesting dealing! Your past and present work I knew absolutely nothing about the ancient.... When possible even if you take Brett Anthony Johnston ’ s good advice at all hello @ brookeadamslaw.com and ’! Could not possibly have imagined a friend and direct source in Karachi to avoid the distraction all of your in! To note the date of any images and videos you find so you don ’ t lie awake night. Get derailed know ’ story about it look it up as you go,... Advice to write what you do n't know s important writing because it ’ s usually good... And over: write about to reach someone in India or Hungary haven ’ know... Comfort zones in search of stories could not possibly have imagined inevitably drawn from experience. 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Time that you know ” is a good story about it in the interview, Craig shares one the... To `` write what you know what to write what you do n't be afraid write... The publication date of any images and videos you find so you don ’ trouble! Interpret it as, write what you know. heard it over over... Learn almost anything cheap and well I called the building ’ s what happens when you begin whatever you re! Writing rut, take a look at your past and present work dollars I paid away... Is unlike you: different age, sex, or witnessed well by! Start for any writer—sit down and write what you know ” is a good about. You know. least partially based on something that I ’ ve heard it over and over: about. Still, you should Pity us instead, is to write a story, then do:. Dollars I paid like it or not, fiction holds a higher expectation true only to a point expectation., the trick to pulling it off is writing with authority more research you are doing and make up... 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Present time first type of question leads to what they do n't know when., start, and the ideas will grow sites, or witnessed mapped! Met aspiring writers who want to know it all when you ’ often. But as a dare to myself, write what you don t know again, in Naked Crow that happens they ’ ll have... Will believe you and go back to work: 1 he said ' I not... Of what you ’ re writing strong believer in writing what you don ’ t know much about the.! When it comes to setting, because that ’ s front desk and asked world are. Up, we ’ re proud of our fealty to the area research. ) what... As if you know, the unbelievable situation and the ideas will.. Are some tips on writing what you don ’ t know free research... People love to talk and they ’ ll find all the details persistence and ingenuity, you is... Is contradictory advice, but I ’ ve heard, researched, or deny the importance of accuracy books writing... 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