At times, the plethora of writing advice out there can be daunting and overwhelming. At other times, you may find a gem amongst the rubble, one that takes your writing journey to better and higher places. “Write what you know” is common writing advice.
We tell this to young and aspiring writers starting out and we tell this to experienced authors who need to be reminded of the basics. But, like with all golden nuggets, this one, Write what you know, is not as simple as you might think.
After all, if we were to take this advice at face value, we would not have stories about rat chefs, princess ogres or monsters in outer space. A big part of being a fiction writer is the fiction part, the imagination, the creativity. When we write, we are creating life and breathing life. And something that once did not exist, now does, not only in the writer’s imagination but in the conscious mind of all readers who participate in this grand narrative.
Shrek is about an ogre who, against all odds, finds and fights for love.
Not everyone would resonate with a story that explores the conspiracy theory of how birds are not real but are in fact drones sent by the government to spy on people. but most would understand that feeling of being watched and judged.
The emotional storyline that grounds the reader into this story world, is the core of every good story. While there are stories out there that are ‘just for entertainment’, a good story tends to be one that speaks to the human condition and appeals to the humanity in all of us.
And so, I would like to add a caveat on this advice for both aspiring and experienced writers:
Write what you know, and if you don’t know enough, then find out.