WandaCKeesey

Write What You Know??
By Wanda C. Keesey

That's what many writing advisors tell beginning writers.

If we were to take this literally, we would be reading an abundance of stories about soccer mom's, work place situations, suppers with the family, Saturday softball games, bike rides with the family, and shopping with the kids. After all we all live basically simple mundane lives.

All of these things have a place in all kinds of stories, but if we wrote stories about these things, as interesting as they would be to the author, they would find very few readers. We all live this life and there wouldn't be anything new or exciting to entertain. But if you're a writer, as serious writer, you also read.

And what you read can be incorporated in a story or novel. You can be a teacher, as well as an entertainer. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, to grab an audience you have to tell them something new.

My novels and some short stories are set in the 19th century. I didn't live in that era, so I have to do constant research on every aspect of life in that time. The language, slang, common everyday household items, tools, available time savers, employment opportunities, weapons, transportation, and travel conditions--the list is endless. I have several critiquers and I am constantly questioned on the authenticity of my writing. I have stacks of books and lots of web sites available to give me these details. But I also visit museums, historical cities, tour historical buildings, talk to those with the knowledge that I need, and attend seminars and conferences.

I also writer horror, and crime stories. Therefore, my stacks of forensic, crime scene and investigation, true crime, weapons, and poisons reference books sit on shelves with all of my writing reference books.   I have personal contacts in local police departments, the Marines, a retired FBI agent-- you get the idea. Cultivate contacts everywhere. I've even asked my dentist for information about gum disease.

Yes, a huge part of writing is reading and research. I think the suggestion should be "Write what you know, and what you can learn. Research, research and more research."   Just as important is to have a good critiquer, or group of critiquers to question your facts.