Please welcome my guest blogger today, Alvina Lopez.
The Golden Rule of Writing Fiction
Every writer has their own set of rules and philosophies that governs their writing style and work ethic. For some writers, consistency in their schedule is key: these are the disciplined writers that work every day based on a very specific schedule. Other writers thrive on spontaneity, writing their work whenever they’re seized by erratic bursts of creativity. Most writers work under some hybrid of these two extremes, tempering methodical practice with sudden energetic jolts of inspiration. I tend to approach fiction and professional content with the same hybrid approach. I have a firm schedule that keeps my writing on track, but I’m also prone to write outside of my schedule when the mood seizes me.
There’s only one “rule” that governs my writing when I work on fiction. It’s a deceptively simple rule: write what you know. It’s a mantra that I repeat whenever I get too deep in the woods of the unknown, a gentle reminder that writing from a point of familiarity isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It might seem obvious, but your strongest writing occurs when you draw from personal experiences and well-researched material.
When I talk about my golden rule of “writing what you know”, I don’t mean that your writing can only be limited to the mundane experiences of your day to day life. There can only be so much fiction about the quiet life and domestic dramas. Writing from a point of familiarity shouldn’t limit your ability; rather, it should provide you with a compass that will help you navigate the wilderness of your imagination. In other words, you can write about outlandish settings and atypical characters, as long as they’re fleshed out in dimensions that you can fully understand.
Let me be more specific. Say that you’re trying to write a fantasy story set in another universe in the distant future. You can (and should) pour all your imagination into describing vibrant alien landscapes, exotic creatures and novel personalities. But unless these fantastical settings are rooted in some sort of relatable conflict—whose nuances you can fully describe—your story will fall flat. If your tale covers some intergalactic war, be sure that you’re well versed in combat and armed conflicts either on a personal or a scholastic level if you want any of your story to ring true. If your fantasy story features an epic romance, even one between a fictional species, you had best be equipped to talk about the complications of love.
Essentially, to “write what you know” means that you must apply universal truths as you know them or have experienced them to produce fiction that will resonate with the reader. The more familiarity you have with a subject, the sharper and more descriptive your writing will be when you write about it. True, there are some writers out there who don’t need any point of reference in order to write a masterpiece. But for the rest of us, and particularly for those writers just starting out, this golden rule helps navigate the perilous waters of fiction.
Editor’s note: How does “write what you know” fuel your fiction?
This comment is from Florence Fois (at http://ramblingsfromtheleft.wordpress.com/), who got bumped out of the comments for some reason:
Alvina, first thanks for this post. Second, yes our knowing is more of
the inner knowledge of human emotions. Places and things we know help,
but research can fill in the blanks.
To Florence: Thanks for your comment. When I first got serious about writing fiction, I had no idea how big a part research would play in my process.
To Alvina: Thank you for you post, and I love the idea of our knowledge simply working as a compass, as a beginning to a story that can lead to a wider understanding.
Well put, Alvina. It’s our ability to infuse our knowledge of humanity into our fiction that makes our characters resonate with our readers. The same goes for every element in our fiction. If we have no personal knowledge or experience, and aren’t willing to research in depth, we ought not include it.
This is such a wonderful reminder. “Write what you know” can be misinterpreted as a very narrow dictum–a waitress should write a book about waitressing–but it’s really important in terms of emotional truths. Without that core connection to one’s characters, the characters will be lifeless. Thanks, Alvina and Christi!
Thank you everyone for your comments!
I don’t mean to downplay the importance of hefty research during the writing process. When I’m writing, I spend as much time researching my material as I do sitting at my desk, going through past experiences and memories. I simply think that “writing what you know” will provide the most satisfying path to a great story.
Thanks again everyone!
Alvina
I like that concept of “what you know” being universal truths and not certain places or the usual “stuff.” very helpful idea to keep in mind. Thanks you two!
Definitely, Nina. What Alvina talks about here I found echoed in Roz Morris’ book, NAIL YOUR NOVEL: Research doesn’t have to be factual. It’s anything that will get your creative juices flowing.
I agree with what Nina said. Here! Here!