Do you write what you know?

[Leslie]

Often writers are advised to "write what you know." Do you do this, or do you enjoy researching topics?

[Leslie]

I will begin by saying that I write fiction and use a combination of my experiences and my imagination and research.

[Gail]

My daughter gave me a sign that's hanging by my computer, "Careful or you'll end up in my novel." I love that...and it's true. I think like most authors, Leslie, I use a combo of experience and imagination, plus historical research due to my genre. But I also use different characteristics of people I know or have known when forming some characters...lol.

[[deleted user]]

I write fiction, mostly science-fiction, historical fiction and alternate history, so there obviously are things that I can't 'know' about future events or technologies. I compensate that lack of actual knowledge of the future (something that applies to all authors) in four ways:
- Basing my story as much as possible on sound, basic fundamentals of known sciences and technologies. Of course, some future inventions that are not yet foreseen may be included/used in the story, which is understandable, especially in science-fiction (like faster-than-light starship drives). That can't really be avoided if you want your story to be as interesting as it could be, as long as you don't fall into the 'Deus-Ex-Machina' pit.
- Keeping the human factor solidly in mind while writing my story. Even in the far future, people will still be people, with emotions, desires, personal flaws and basic physical and mental needs. The personality of the main characters will be a lot more interesting to the readers than any 'superpowers' he/she may hold.
- Keep the geopolitical/social/military plots credible by applying to them the lessons of our past and present. Don't be afraid to use your own personal life experience in this matter. A world where, for example, all politicians would be free of greed, corruption and hunger for power would not be believable to the readers. Some of them will be bad, more will be decent/okay and quite a few will be incompentents or fools, like today. A perfect world will never be.
- Finally, and very importantly, if you don't know about something that you want to include in your story, then take the time to research that subject in depth. Even if it is about a new invention, some basic laws of physics/nature still apply and you must show to the readers that you at least know something about those laws and principles. If, for example, you write a space opera type of adventure, then make sure first that you know about at least the fundamentals of Space and astronomy. Another example: if you want to show a ship equipped with a Plasma Drive engine, then don't make that Plasma Drive what it can't possibly be according to the laws of Physics.

To resume all this, stay as realistic as possible in the context of your story; keep your characters believable; use the known lessons from History that would apply to your story and take the time to do some serious preliminary research. Fiction should not mean 'inhuman' or 'unbelievable'.

[Helen]

I write science fiction and fantasy, and for my first book, Floodtide, the hero was a geologist, so I thought I'd better put a bit of geology in it.

My first port of call to learn geological principles was to read up on it, and I became interested in it enough to enrol for Geology GCSE, which I passed with an A*. During that course, some of the students and I went to the tutor and asked about A level Geology. I was the first person to complete the course at our local college, and I became pregnant whilst a full-time A level student. I didn't have any science or maths qualifications, so my quest for knowledge became a personal one as I enrolled for English and Geology A level, plus Maths and Environmental Studies, Biology and Chemistry GCSEs - the GCSEs spread over the 2 years.

I had gone to a school where the Nuffield qualifications were followed, and had suspected for a while that I may have dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dyslexia, so I never stood a chance with any of the Nuffield work, as the qualifications are stuffed to the gunwales with calculations! But I passed everything with an A or B grade, because I went back to the beginning (which I'd also missed a lot of at school due to recurrent ear infections) and learned everything again from scratch. I gained a B grade in every part of my Maths GCSE (the highest grade available on the tier I took) - despite being pregnant during the latter part of the course - even in Statistics and Probability, which I'd never done before! I was so chuffed - and in a way that was more important to me than coming 5th in the country in my English A level (it was the second time around for me).

I went to university to study Geology on a raft of A and B grades, and ended up with a 2:1, coming top in the dissertations. I had discovered, when I arrived at my uni, that I could do Planetary Science, which was perfect for me as a science fiction writer! So, not only did I achieve the ambition I'd had as a child to study science, I did very well in my English A level, and as a bonus, my son was born after 4 miscarriages and a difficult pregnancy, and is now 25.

So yes, I definitely write what I know, and feel confident in doing so. I research anything I need to, and use my knowledge of planetary science to draw landscapes and design planets. The science isn't the only component of a good SF novel; the arts of good characterisation and plotting apply to all fiction genres, but the overall synthesis of a good or great read is what's important.

And at around 50 my suspicions were confirmed - I have dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dyslexia. It didn't stop me, though. I've run shops, been a professional trainer and proof-reader, learned to edit, speak French, German and Spanish, and taught myself to write and publish my own fiction, and I now teach other writers and self-publishers how to do what I do.

[Kerry]

I tend to use a combo of both, especially in my latest WIP a romcom, about a woman who has left bright city lights to take on a reform in the countryside in Spain. The MC is very different from myself, however, the locations I can really talk about and the first-hand experience. For my first and second books, I did a lot of research especially the 2nd one a psychological thriller, based on a woman who was mentally abused. Mostly I use a combo of experience and research where I need to. Interesting topic this one. Thanks for sharing your experiences

[[deleted user]]

To complete my answer at msg #4, I spent 32 in the Canadian Forces, first as an infantryman, then as a military intelligence operator and analyst. I spent five and a half years of my service time overseas (Germany, Cyprus, Lebanon, Bosnia) and traveled extensively through Europe. I use my military experience and knowledge when I write action/military-style stories, to make them realistic. That experience also includes meeting a wide variety of people of various backgrounds, ideologies and personalities, something I also use to make my characters as close to real life as possible. I reinforce that experience and personal knowledge by avidly reading up about geopolitics, history, military technology and Space technologies. Unfortunately, I have read too many authors who obviously know little or nothing about what they write and obviously didn't care about learning, ending up telling some non-sense or very tall tales. Those books are quickly thrown away by me.

[Leona]

These are really interesting.
I have done NaNoWriMo the last two years just to prove to myself I could do it; I won both times.
I have a degree in archaeology and have worked as a volunteer and paid staff at a museum and a volunteer at another.
I am writing about the ruins in Mexico and last my trip to Egypt. Most of my characters work or volunteer at a museum. I have also been to China to see the Terra Cotta Warriors and Stonehenge so may write about them.
I am writing what I know and also doing a lot of research.
Not sure if I will do NaNoWriMo this year.

[Leslie]

Kerry wrote: "I tend to use a combo of both, especially in my latest WIP a romcom, about a woman who has left bright city lights to take on a reform in the countryside in Spain. The MC is very different from mys..."

Kerry, do you enjoy writing about a character different from yourself? That can be challenging, but freeing. I guess that's another fascinating topic.

[Bec]

Helen wrote: "I write science fiction and fantasy, and for my first book, Floodtide, the hero was a geologist, so I thought I'd better put a bit of geology in it. "

Your pursuit of knowledge is commendable, especially in light of your physical challenges. Well done!