Write what
you know…. wrong
From the
time we first were given the assignment to write a story, the teacher told us
to “write what you know about.” At the
time that was pretty good advice since it was probably given in the third or
fourth grade. As youngsters, we had a
limited view of the world and didn’t know much about things outside our family
or neighborhood. That’s not the case
now, so forget that sage advice and listen up.
In my
humble opinion, if there is such a thing, I say as writers it’s much more
important to know about what you’re writing that to write about what you know
about. Confusing? Not really when you think about it. How many science fiction writers have
actually been in space? Seen Mars?
Stepped foot on Venus or rode in an alien space ship? Not many, I’ll bet but they write about it in
a convincing manner and make the reader believe what they are reading.
I’m not
going to ask how many mystery writers have killed someone or robbed a bank or
set up a long con, but you get the idea.
This is where research comes in.
Talk to people how have done the things you want to write about or read
other books and publications on the subject.
If the other person got it right or at least believable, so can
you.
I
completed a BA in Criminology when I was on active duty in the Army. I missed a class on Juvenile Justice and the
instructor told me to find a facility and go interview a kid who was
incarcerated. I contacted the local
sheriff and asked if he would set it up.
I went to the facility on the way home from work one day and I happened
to be in uniform. I met a young boy
about twelve. He was quiet, somewhat shy
and seemed out of place there. We talked
for a while, never discussing why he was in there and towards the end of the
conversation, he asked if I was in the Army.
I told him I was and he said he’d like to join one day. I, being a former recruiter, told him he had
his life ahead of him, to stay on the straight and narrow and he might still be
able to join. He then asked if the Army
taught me how to shoot a gun and asked if I had one. I answered him and his next comment is one I
will never forget. “I wish I knew how to
shoot a gun. I’d kill my father.” I can only imagine what was done to that
child for him to have that much hate in his heart. What’s that got to do with “write about what
you know about?” Until that day, I could
not imagine that a child could possibly do the things I saw at that facility.
After
that, I have given myself permission to have my characters do the most heinous
and vicious things to each other in my books and scripts. I console myself with the fact that it’s my
characters and not me doing those things but I usually find someone who has
already done them and pattern my actions after them.
Writing
about your puppy or grandma’s cookies is okay if you’re under the age of ten,
but if you want readers to respond by spending money, do some research. Stretch out.
Find out how to rob a bank or fly the space shuttle.
