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This week: Write What You . . . NO! Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the For Authors Newsletter. I am Shannon and I am your guest editor this week. |
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Write What You . . . NO!
We've all heard it: Write what you know, but is this practical advice? Does that mean someone like me who was born and raised in Alaska, likes to write, lives in Idaho and works as a nurse can only write about those things and nothing else? Has Stephen King ever done hard time? Well, how was he able to write Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption then? Was Robert Crais a P.I. in a past life? No? Then how can he possibly write the Elvis Cole series?
Obviously someone who's never worked in the medical profession, doesn't know anyone who does work in the medical profession, hasn't researched the medical profession and has no desire to learn anything about the medical profession shouldn't write a story set in a hospital. That's a no-brainer. But for those of us who are willing to put in the time, do the research and pay our dues, I think it's okay to tweak the old adage just a smidge. How about Write what you want to know and are willing to learn about?
A couple years ago I decided to join a local critique group. There were only three other members; two men in their 70s and a woman in her 60s who was nice enough but always reeked of alcohol. These three people had known each other for years, and I instantly felt like an outsider.
We met every Wednesday from 1:00-3:30, and we were expected to bring three copies of our WIP for the others to take home, critique and discuss the following week. At that time I only wrote poetry, short stories, articles and essays, so I took three copies of "The Promise" [13+]--a short story about what it was like to be a Jew in 1940s Poland--to my first meeting.
Having never been involved with a critique group before, I'm not sure what I expected when I came in the following Wednesday, but I certainly wasn't expecting to be raked over the coals.
It became painfully clear to me that one of the two older gentlemen didn't come to the meetings to improve his own writing, but to belittle and slam everyone else's.
"You really should stick to what you know," he said. "I lived through those times, and what you portray in your story isn't accurate."
I proceeded to explain to him the extensive research I'd conducted, both online and at home, prior to writing my story--how I'd read and watched everything pertaining to the Holocaust I could get my hands on: The Pianist, Paperclips, Children of the Flames, Night, Holocaust and Sophie's Choice just to name a few. I told him about the Holocaust survivor I met in 1991 while washing my newborn son's clothes in a Beatty Nevada laundromat. He was intrigued by the three-day-old baby ("That's the smallest human being I've ever seen," he said); I was intrigued by the numbers tattooed on his forearm. The critic continued to argue that the Jews knew exactly what was going on, and that there was never a doubt in any of their minds as to where the trains were taking them or what their fate would be. I respectfully disagreed. I cited Shoah--a 9.5-hour documentary that took me almost three days to watch because of the pages and pages of direct quotes and other notes I took.
My point is that he may have "lived through those times" as a young child, but he didn't survive the death camps. I chose to believe the plethora of firsthand accounts forever memorialized in those documentaries and books.
Needless to say I only attended two meetings. Sometimes critique groups do more harm than good, so choose wisely.
Interested in forensics? Educate yourself--then write about it. Are you interested in the Holocaust? There is more information out there than you could ever read or watch. Choose a few reliable sources . . . then write about it. Scuba diving? Take the plunge and write about it. Do you want to take a cross-country road trip on a Harley? Buy that noisy sucker and hit the open road! Just make sure you write about it when you get back.
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Feedback
The following is in response to "For Authors Newsletter (April 8, 2009)"
hbar  says, "Hooray for you! Now that was a newsletter worth reading. I am with you 100% on this, nothing turns me off faster than an author treating me like an idiot, unless perhaps the author has the science all wrong. Excellent newsletter, Shannon."
Acme says, "Hope the new book doesn't disappoint! Good reminder on authentic world making, Shannon. Your example is quite a tell-tale on the amount, or lack, of research done by the author. It's a fine line between knowing enough, showing enough, or being an anorak (erm, nerdy know-it-all). While you might not be an anorak, I can't say that I'm immune.  Hubby threw a cushion at me when I had a whinge about the Panthenon showing its new face courtesy of Agrippa. The TV show Rome used the 27 B.C. building as a backdrop in an early scene with Julius (pre 44 B.C.), before Octavian had even whiffed the senate. Even then it wasn't finished to what's recognizable today until Hadrian 150 years later. So I was righteously miffed at the CGI department. Hubby maintained he was righteously miffed at me. He didn't care about a building with a hole in the roof; he just wanted to watch the show without me wittering on. Fair point. Suspension of belief is one thing, and divorce on grounds of being a twit is quite another. *hangs head in shame*"
Emily Feliciano says, "I just wanted to say that this article was very helpful and very true. Thanks so much for sharing. I can understand how it would almost be 'offensive' if someone was writing about a profession and everything they wrote was wrong--especially if you're in that profession! Thanks or the tip and I will be sure to always do my research!"
Mara ♣ McBain  says, "Great advice, Shannon! It is easy to spend valuable hours searching for answers to your tale's little details, but the end result of your hard work shines through to your readers."
pooja_sr says, "Very true, Shannon. Keep 'em coming. Good luck with the new book. ;)"
StephBee - House Targaryen  says, "My fingers are crossed for you, Sweetie. Doing your homework, or research, (as I call it) on your writing is so important to bringing authencity to it. I'm surprised a professional author was allowed to slide. That's why they have editors! I guess the editor missed that, too. Thanks for sharing."
lkokko says, "So true, research is so very important in writing. I have researched topics I 'Think' I knew, just to find some juicy morsel I didn't know - which turned out to be my direction in the story."
Sssssh! I'm not really here.  says, "Great Newsletter, Shannon! You are correct, the book must be believable. If an author doesn't do his homework by researching a certain subject matter that is unfamiliar to him, the reader will pick up on that. It ruins the book and peeves the reader for wasting sdo much time on the book. Thank you for highlighting The Lost Lady."
nightwindows says, "I completely agree! Nothing bothers me more than an author who ignores the research. 'Write what you know' doesn't mean that you can't write about something you haven't personally experienced. It just means you have to research it first!"
SmokeyMtn says, "I had a similar experience recently. I found an author I like who grew up in my area and sets his stories here. Unfortunately, his editor didn't do him justice. There were many misspellings, typos and even a few words that sound like what he was saying but spelled differently. Maybe you could do a newsletter about why we must proof our own material repeatedly before submission."
Raine says, "Absolutely. Research is a must. Yes, it takes time but it can also give new idea and new depth to your tale."
Jimminycritic  says, "Very good point! Research, research, research and write what you know. Thanks for sharing!"
Michelle Broughton says, "You are so right. When so little is done to confirm facts, the story suffers and so does any informed reader. Your article brought one of the most important facts to light for any writer. Thank you."
JACE - House Targaryen  says, "Great article, Shannon. You are right on; I cringe when I catch my own errors. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I published something factually wrong. I guess even the publishing company can't have experts at everything."
Puppycat says, "This was GREAT. I believe we should write about what we know and not write about what we don't know or only guess or surmise about. The lies turn me off too."
dusktildawn says, "Shannon, I couldn't agree with you more. Research takes a lot time, yes, but in the end, you have a well crafted novel/story that is believable. Readers are certainly not dumb. When I find inconsistencies like that in a book, I put it down and don't finish it. Research is essential, and better yet, a writer can learn new things along the way. A good rule of thumb: write what you know, not what you think you know. Of course, penning fantasy is different. An author can make up all sorts of wonderful things."
A thinker never sleeps says, "Very true. This can especially apply to places. I.e if you pick a city you've never been to but don't research the culture and place. Google map helps visually but local blogs provide a lot of useful stuff. Good research really makes a difference in writing. Great newsletter."
Thank you all so much for your wonderful feedback! Your comments actually inspired today's newsletter, so thank YOU!  |
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For Authors: August 26, 2009 Issue [#3220]
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