Some of the most common advice given to writers is 'write what you know', and while I understand the point behind this advice, I can't help but shudder at the thought of writers only writing what they know. The science fiction and fantasy genres wouldn't exist. Neither would dystopian, Steampunk, Paranormal, or historical romance. There would be very few psychological thrillers, spy novels, horror novels, or epic romance novels. Let's face it. We write what we love, and what our imaginations let us explore. Research helps us stabilize our imaginations with facts and anchor it with truth. If no one wrote anything except what they knew, then there would very little to read besides memoirs, textbooks and autobiographies.
There are, of course, writers who do write what they know, and they are very successful and accomplished but they are definitely in the minority. James Harriet and Kathy Reich come to mind, along with detectives and lawyers who write true crime etc.
My book Amaranthine wouldn't exist if I followed this advice since I know next to nothing about: Denmark, London, 1885, owning a duck, being an orphan, killing someone, or being immortal. But I can use the internet and I dreamed up the rest. If it's not entirely historically accurate, that's ok.
I think the best advice for writers would be write what you love.
There are, of course, writers who do write what they know, and they are very successful and accomplished but they are definitely in the minority. James Harriet and Kathy Reich come to mind, along with detectives and lawyers who write true crime etc.
My book Amaranthine wouldn't exist if I followed this advice since I know next to nothing about: Denmark, London, 1885, owning a duck, being an orphan, killing someone, or being immortal. But I can use the internet and I dreamed up the rest. If it's not entirely historically accurate, that's ok.
I think the best advice for writers would be write what you love.
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