"Write what you know"

[Helen]

Good advice? Or not? I'm guest blogging on that topic today and invite your input at http://debbie-peterson.blogspot.com/

[G.T.]

In my novel Juror 1389: Dorsie Raines Renninger I "wrote what I know", interweaving it into character backgrounds and setting the story in locales where I've lived. For example, I had the opportunity (through a volunteer "puppy raiser")to visit a campus where dogs are trained to become Guide Dogs for the blind. One of my characters in the novel is an avid puppy raiser and I used that as a vehicle to bring him together with my main female character. The second half of the story takes place where I live. In conjunction with that, I have a "1389 Reade Trivia Contest" with submissions through my website. Readers who can identify all the places, streets, establishments, clubs and activities that are unique to this community will be awarded prizes.

As a speaking guest at a book club, I was asked how did I make my characters soo real and believable? My answer, "write what you know". I then went on to explain various aspects in the novel and from where in my own life experiences they came from.

[Micah]

You have to be careful about writing what you know because you might reveal how little you know!

I'd rather lean toward Groucho's sentiment when he said, "The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made."

Basically...to be a good writer you either have to write what you know (and have a wealth of knoweldge), or know how to be a con man. If you know how to be a con man and THEN write what you know...yeah, that's the ticket 'cause then you can write anything!

[Helen]

Both of you make good points. My focus on the blog is what do writers of fantasy do with this advice. How can you write authentically about what you can't possibly know?