Write what you know.

I tend to follow the subject because without it how can I follow it? I always go back to general writing because that is what I know and like. It inspires me to write because I know what I like and want to share it with others. I think i found something out about why I like to write. writer one

 

Write what you know. If you don't know it, go and find it out and carry on writing.

 

Dammit, I was going to say that! Mine was, "Write what you know, research what you don't." I'm sure someone else coined the phrase, but I can't recall right now who said it.

 

Me.

 

Well said, will do.write one

 

Thank all of your for being patience with me. I am now pondering to start writing and wondering more what the next word is? It's interesting how one looks at a blank word slot and wonders what to put there. Is that normal? write one

 

Write what you don't know; it's more interesting in my opinion.

 

If you don't know the next word, leave it to one side and work on another section.

There's nothing stopping you from writing your sections/chapters out of sequence and pulling it all together at the end.

But only you can decide if that's the right way for you.

"The darkest hour is just before dawn." (Song lyric by Mamma Cass)

"The hardest word to write, is the first one on a blank page." (Words of Wisdom, by me, E R Chissick, Author)

 

I've always wondered, what happens when you don't know anything?

 

I think 'write what you know' has become a misunderstood cliche. While I largely think the saying is bullshit, I think there's some merit to it. I think it's more about emotions and themes rather than individual events which have happened to you personally. For example, I would be happy to read a book about how to make women orgasm if it was written by a porn star, but not if it was written by George R R Martin.

 

It is said, "I know nothing" The word tease comes to mind here. writer one

 

I grew up reading science fiction. "Write what you know" never made any sense to me - who knows anything about the planet Garbathal (just made that up)? Who really knows what it's like to raise children in zero gravity? Etc.

I always replaced "write what you know" with "write what you love." If you love it, it's more likely to be good.

 

I always thought it meant write what you're familiar with. If you're exploring something new that you haven't a clue about then it's time for research and reading. That's always fun.

 

'Write what you know' is so general that what you know could be how men and women interact by virtue of you living and observing in the 21st century. You can apply what you know in a sci-fi piece, for example, and what you know will make it authentic, and what you learn or invent will make it interesting.

 

The lyric is from "Dedicated to the One I Love" is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass which was a hit for The "5" Royales, The Shirelles and The Mamas & the Papas.[1] Pauling was the guitarist of The "5" Royales, the group that recorded the original version of this song, produced by Bass, in 1957.

The lead singer on the Mamas & the Papas version was Michelle Phillips. It was the first time that Phillips was given the lead over Cass Elliott.

 

...? What the fuck happened to imagination?

 

I have been a daydreamer all my life and Star Trek was my only teacher. The only science I learned was from Star Trek. In my mind or imagination there are perhaps thousands of stories I could write, but the credit would come from Star Trek and all the actors and the t.v. show as well. writer one

 

I believe I can only write what I know. Even tho science fiction is great and I love Star Trek I am not sure I could write something outside of my knowledge even fantasy because I have to be the author of it. Writer one

P.S. The reason I sign my name in lower case is I am not sure my user name deserves Capitals in upper case. Thoughts? writer one

 

Does it matter who wrote it as long as the tips in there, actually work?? Or is it because you know what Martin looks like? i.e. an overaged member of ZZ Topp with a beer belly rather than a svelte, sexy Chippendale-esque male model?

 

I stand corrected, the M&P's version is the only version I know.

 

Write what you know ...

I guess it also depends what genre you are writing in.

If you are talking sci-fi set in the year 3055, then who knows what technological advances will have happened.

If your writing about a world where dinosaurs co-exist with humans - and talk to each other - then by all means, play with it how you wish.

If you are writing a story set in 1955, London, UK, where your main character marshalls a football match where one of the players collapses on the pitch, you are not going to write that your MC dashes onto the pitch with a mobile defibrillator and saves the player's life.

But, at the base of it all, your story is exactly that, YOUR story. How honest, truthful, magical, imaginative or - and this one's more important to me than the others - believable you want it to be, is totally up to you ...

 

I started to write when I am sad,after writing some thing I will get solution for my problem.

 

"Writing what you know," like all writing adages, is a tool that can help you succeed. It helps create honest writing that is unique to you. It will make you stand out. This is in opposition to say, "I watched by Game of Thrones and now I want to essentially write a knock off."

 

I reckon it will show!

 

I believe "write what you know" refers to emotion. If you are writing about betrayal, don't try to create it from nothing. Remember when you felt betrayed and write from there.