tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post483917663489609081..comments2024-03-29T08:10:45.752-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW: A VARIATIONJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-26319441300964594312015-08-01T20:59:45.070-04:002015-08-01T20:59:45.070-04:00I always thought the "write what you know&quo...I always thought the "write what you know" ideology was limiting, and I think that saying if you don't know something, you can write about it, but research it, is pretty good advice.<br /><br />When it comes to write what you know I've always said write what you're interested in. Sometimes beginners will try to write something they know nothing about because they don't really care about it, but they like the way it makes them look. I've tried to write contemporary plays constantly, but they're never finished because I don't care about this reality. I think it's far more important to pick subjects that you care about than ones you are already informed on--especially because it'll help encourage you to do research.Davelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144628296824568015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-39908137689308144142015-07-31T13:11:14.805-04:002015-07-31T13:11:14.805-04:00I agree with you, Warren. You've obviously don...I agree with you, Warren. You've obviously done a good job of research to make your books ring true. I don't write historical fiction, although there is one middle-grade book I started and may finish that takes place in the early years of Hiram, Ohio history. I researched the history to teach my third grade classes about the early settlers and what life was like then. I may get back to that book someday in my spare time.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-21572168021129715052015-07-31T08:38:36.386-04:002015-07-31T08:38:36.386-04:00We're talked before about how historical ficti...We're talked before about how historical fiction needs to be accurate or readers can hurl books across the room in disgust.<br /><br />There are places where pure imagine can run without constraints: fantasy comes as do the fictional towns and cities some authors choose for setting.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-22267000585714524832015-07-31T07:56:35.915-04:002015-07-31T07:56:35.915-04:00A lot of my writing is faction, that is, a combina...A lot of my writing is faction, that is, a combination of what I know, what I research and my imagination. I think you can never go wrong if you write with your heart and your head.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12446092198079859892015-07-31T07:41:04.004-04:002015-07-31T07:41:04.004-04:00Research can certainly help, and primary sources a...Research can certainly help, and primary sources are invaluable. We wouldn't have any historic novels or science fiction if authors stuck strictly to writing what they know.<br /><br />The internet makes a lot of research so much easier, especially fact-checking.<br /><br />Having access to people who are very familiar with times and situations is very helpful, too. One of my sisters, who spent several years working in the French archives studying women's education in France in the 1800's, was frequently consulted by one particular author who wrote historic fiction of that era. And in one book I needed to have a buried body discovered. The culprit had buried it at a bridge construction site, where he thought it would soon be covered by tons of concrete and steel. I turned to my daughter, who was working at a bridge construction site. She told me all about erosion control and silt snakes, plus the inspectors who could show up and stop work if the killer didn't get the silt snakes replaced exactly right. KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.com