"MY FAMILIAR"

                                          

 

                         Writing What You Know 

 

 

The proverb familiarity breeds contempt might have been meant as words of wisdom. Sometimes, when you know too much about something or someone, positive or negative, it could lead to unresolvable issues and a loss of respect.

 

That may be true in some cases; however, today, I want to share some benefits of having extensive knowledge of writing what you know.

 

Mark Twain was quoted as having said, “Write what you know.”

He wasn’t wrong about that, which is why I agree because it makes sense.

 

Writing is so much easier when you know exactly how to navigate it. The benefits of writing with a roadmap or GPS streamlines the process.

 

A few key points are:

1.      It opens the door to more possibilities.

2.       It shows experience

3.      A level of expertise

4.      It makes your story more believable

 

Besides Mark Twain, some of the greatest prolific writers worldwide will suggest that the best way to tell a story is to write about what you know.

 

But how do you do that across every genre?

 

Perhaps you write fantasy or sci-fi but have never existed in either realm and therefore lack personal knowledge about life in these universes.

 

That is when the imagination takes over, and you start to create something from nothing. Also, you are relying on personal experiences interjected into the story.

 

As writers, we do this each time we sit down at the keyboard, making it up as we go, but some truths are based on actual life events, which create compelling stories.

 

Writing what you know allows you to pull from those personal experiences and stored emotions that give your story life.

 

We’ve all experienced heartbreak, pain, rage, and sorrow. If you had to tell a story based on these emotions, I’m positive it would be like opening a floodgate of emotions and an excellent example of writing what you know.

 

Writing what you know doesn’t only apply to storytelling from a character-driven perspective, as there are other means of sharing a narrative.

 

I’ve read poems and listened to songs that moved me almost to tears. I felt each word, the passion, and the energy derived from the artist who gave a detailed accounting powered by writing what they know.

 

Writing what you know is an important starting point of storytelling. It is an opportunity to share that expertise with others who may find comfort in your truth and inspiration to begin their writing journey.