Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 6
July 18, 2025
Writing Outside Your Experience by Poppy Gee

CRAFT What are your thoughts on writing ‘outside your ownexperience’? What are the potential pitfalls? What are reasons to do it? Canyou give a personal example of how you navigated this potentially problematicterrain?
This month was my turn to set the questions, and I plannedto share my experience writing a neuro-diverse character, in my novel VanishingFalls, when I am not neuro-diverse myself.
But recently, I had an interesting conversation at a writingcommunity event, so I want to s...
July 17, 2025
Celtic Vibe, by Catriona
What are your thoughts on writing ‘outside your own experience’? What are the potential pitfalls? What are the reasons to do it? Can you give a personal example of how you navigated this potentially problematic terrain?
The blog title is why I can't watch Outlander. If you're from Sheridan, Wyoming, I'm sure the carnival of accents with a general Celtic vibe seem like Scottish authenticity second to none. Me? Made it through half an episode. But I've got no problem with the blanket "Northern" ...
July 16, 2025
Write what you (don't) know by Eric Beetner
CRAFT What are your thoughts on writing ‘outside your own experience’? What are the potential pitfalls? What are the reasons to do it? Can you give a personal example of how you navigated this potentially problematic terrain?
I’ve long been a critic of “write what you know” as writing advice. I’m a fan of write what you want to know.
Of course you will bring a unique, lived-in reality to your writing if you write from your own experience, but I also think personal experience can lie below any sto...
July 15, 2025
No Shake and Bake for You

What are your thoughts on writing ‘outsideyour own experience’? What are the potential pitfalls? What are the reasons todo it? Can you give a personal example of how you navigated this potentially problematicterrain?
There are Two Easy Outs to answer this question.
Research.
Imagination.
But you didn’t come here forSimple and Easy. No Shake and Bake for you.
I’ve never been one to shy awayfrom uncomfortable truths, and any writer worth their salt will eventually facethe choice: pl...
July 14, 2025
Write what you know?
What are your thoughts on writing outside your ownexperience? What are the potential pitfalls? What are the reasons to do it? Canyou give a personal example of how you navigated this potentially problematicterrain?
One of the first rules of writing that I learned was rightwhat you know. I couldn’t agree less. So, I ignore it all the time. Personally,I think that should be a rule strictly for non-fiction. I mean, consideringthat someone always dies, normally not well, in my novels, my ...
July 10, 2025
To Share, or Not to Share - A Writer's Dilemma, by Harini Nagendra
Here's the question of the week: How much should a writer share about their personal life?
SallyRooney has refused, in interviews, to talk about her private life. AuthorDebbie Urbanski recently wrote a piece for Literary Hub titled: If Itell you secrets about my personal life, will you look at my new book? Thepoint Debbie made was, most of us are desperate for publicity, we need ourbooks to sell, so we feel compelled to participate in the sharing of personalinformation. What are your thoug...
Voyeurs and Exhibitionists from James W. Ziskin

Sally Rooney has refused, in interviews, to talk about her private life. Author Debbie Urbanski recently wrote a piece for Literary Hub titled: If I tell you secrets about my personal life, will you look at my new book? The point Debbie made was, most of us are desperate for publicity, we need our books to sell, so we feel compelled to participate in the sharing of personal information. What are your thoughts on how much writers should share?
In the Before Times—before social media—people didn’t...
July 9, 2025
Clicks, Likes and Book Sales
What are your thoughts on how much writers should share?
by Dietrich
Sally Rooney, known for her reticence in discussing her private life, contrasts with the pressures many authors face to share personal details for publicity. In a recent Literary Hub piece, Debbie Urbanski asked, "If I tell you secrets about my personal life, will you look at my new book?" This question highlights the dilemma: in an era where personal branding often overshadows artistic output, how much should writers reveal to ...
July 8, 2025
Attention! Attention! My Life is....
Most writers are desperate for publicity. We need our books to sell, so we feel compelled to participate in the sharing of personal information. What are your thoughts on how much writers should share?
Writers are told that readers want to feel as if they have gotten to know writers personally. And I’m actually okay with that. I’m met a lot of fans and have always found it a real pleasure. I don’t mind if they know something about my personal life. But how much? I will talk about where I live a...
July 7, 2025
Coming Out of the Darkness - Matthew Greene
Sally Rooney has refused, in interviews, to talk about her private life. Author Debbie Urbanski recently wrote a piece for Literary Hub titled: If I tell you secrets about my personal life, will you look at my new book? The point Debbie made was, most of us are desperate for publicity, we need our books to sell, so we feel compelled to participate in the sharing of personal information. What are your thoughts on how much writers should share?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an actor. I lived f...
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