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"Write what you know"
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Helen
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Nov 24, 2014 07:21AM
Good advice? Or not? I'm guest blogging on that topic today and invite your input at http://debbie-peterson.blogspot.com/
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You hit exactly on what I put in my blog, Deanna.
As a writer, "write what you know" applies more to the truth of the human condition. This year I embarked on a series about a military dog trainer/handler with PTSD. I didn't know any of that, yet people are leaving me reviews asking how I came to know so much. Yes, I did some research, but data-dumping what I learned wouldn't have made for effective story-telling. Rather, I wrote from the true core of my characters (especially my protagonist), and that's why the story comes across as real and genuine.Some additional thoughts from my blog:
http://www.eduardosuastegui.com/write...
http://www.eduardosuastegui.com/write...
You're right, Eduardo. Data-dumps just show how enamored a writer is with his/her research. I tend to skip those pages in search of the story. A writer needs to distill the heart of the research and put that in the story in appropriate places.
Eduardo wrote: "As a writer, "write what you know" applies more to the truth of the human condition. This year I embarked on a series about a military dog trainer/handler with PTSD. I didn't know any of that, yet ..."Hey Eduardo -- my novel has characters who have backgrounds as 1)puppy raiser for dogs going into training to become Guide Dogs for the blind. 2)Certified trainer of working dogs for military and law enforcement. How did I learn about it all - know a puppy raiser, visited the Guide Dog Campus, attended certification/competition events for working dogs and had mini training sessions on giving hand and voice commands to these highly trained dogs. It all found it's way nicely into my storyline and development of characters.
I agree with you. Focus on human condition. No research/data dumping.
www.gttrickle.com
There is some truth to that statement, but I agree with Eduardo as well. Sometimes you need to do some research to learn things, otherwise you might risk coming off as uninformed. My stories are set in various times and places in history. The 1st one 'Lost Soul' is set in 16th century England. I did a lot of research, but the heart of the story is with the characters and their thoughts and emotions. If they didn't come across as real it didn't matter how many facts I put in.
You have to do the research in order to be convincing to the discerning reader. The last thing you need in this social media universe is to be flagged for ignorance. But you don't want to let the research overwhelm the story. Readers will buy a lot of 'stretches' if the writer gives them good enough reasons and the story 'feels real.'
