I know the old saying is write what you know. But a lot of times what you don’t know is much more interesting than what you do know.
If you write mystery, do you really know how a murderer thinks? No, but you write scenes that make it look like you do. The great thing about this is that your scene will be different than anyone else's. That's because you are a different person and would therefore be a different kind of murderer.
I’m scared of you already.
If you write science fiction, do you really know what aliens look like or what they come here for? (I believe it’s the cheese.)
And here again as you invent things for your story, you are inventing material that’s totally different than others who are writing alien stories.
In short you’re writing what you don’t know. You’re making it up--which is what writers are supposed to do.
I think writing stories involving things you have no knowledge of can be exciting and fun. As well, I think your story will be more creative and interesting for it.
Of course, there is a place for research as well. For example, if your story is about a plumber and you start talking about the #4 plunger that he's using, you better be prepared for angry calls from the Plumber's Union at three in the morning saying that you're so wrong and should be using a #5 for the job.
However, your actual story about the plumber can all be made up. So, again you are writing about what you don't know.
This column made me think about how much I don't know about what I know or if I ever knew what I didn't know.
Have fun every day!
Steve
If you write mystery, do you really know how a murderer thinks? No, but you write scenes that make it look like you do. The great thing about this is that your scene will be different than anyone else's. That's because you are a different person and would therefore be a different kind of murderer.
I’m scared of you already.
If you write science fiction, do you really know what aliens look like or what they come here for? (I believe it’s the cheese.)
And here again as you invent things for your story, you are inventing material that’s totally different than others who are writing alien stories.
In short you’re writing what you don’t know. You’re making it up--which is what writers are supposed to do.
I think writing stories involving things you have no knowledge of can be exciting and fun. As well, I think your story will be more creative and interesting for it.
Of course, there is a place for research as well. For example, if your story is about a plumber and you start talking about the #4 plunger that he's using, you better be prepared for angry calls from the Plumber's Union at three in the morning saying that you're so wrong and should be using a #5 for the job.
However, your actual story about the plumber can all be made up. So, again you are writing about what you don't know.
This column made me think about how much I don't know about what I know or if I ever knew what I didn't know.
Have fun every day!
Steve