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sallyduchessWhat Should You Write?
October 31st 2006 04:31
It's a question that has been asked many times. I ask myself the same question almost every week. When beginning writers ask it, they usually get one of two answers.
1. Write what you know.
2. Write what you like reading.
They are both good answers, but sticking rigidly to either of these two rules isn't the best approach. Let's take a look at them.
1. Write what you know. Yes, we should write about what we know, but I think that too many beginning writers think this means they should only write about life experiences. Writing what you know is not just writing about your daily life, but using the feelings and experiences you have had. We don't need to actually experience something to understand it. For instance, I had a friend who was discussing my recent attempt to quit smoking. She said she had no idea what it felt like. Just a few minutes earlier she had been discussing her recent struggle to stop overeating. I told her she did know what it felt like to crave something that she knew wasn't good for her. In a sense, she knew what it was like to quit smoking. When looking at what you know, try and see how those experiences can help you look at other experiences.
2. Write what you like reading. It's fairly good advice. If we like reading something, chances are we will like writing something. Also, we have a good grasp of the way that type of writing works. But just because you like reading something doesn't necessarily mean you will like writing it. Someone who likes reading murder mysteries may find the idea of writing one themselves quite overwhelming. By all means, write what you like to read, but only if you feel you want to write that type of material.
I think the best advice on what to write is to write what you want to. Forget about whether it's what you know or whether it's the stuff you like to read. If you want to write something, then write it. Even if you find you are not very good at writing it, your skills can always be improved. Think about what you would write if you knew you couldn't fail. Then try and write it.
You should keep in mind the type of writing you would be best at, and how your skills and experiences can help you in your written work. But don't let this stop you writing what you really want to write.
1. Write what you know.
2. Write what you like reading.
They are both good answers, but sticking rigidly to either of these two rules isn't the best approach. Let's take a look at them.
1. Write what you know. Yes, we should write about what we know, but I think that too many beginning writers think this means they should only write about life experiences. Writing what you know is not just writing about your daily life, but using the feelings and experiences you have had. We don't need to actually experience something to understand it. For instance, I had a friend who was discussing my recent attempt to quit smoking. She said she had no idea what it felt like. Just a few minutes earlier she had been discussing her recent struggle to stop overeating. I told her she did know what it felt like to crave something that she knew wasn't good for her. In a sense, she knew what it was like to quit smoking. When looking at what you know, try and see how those experiences can help you look at other experiences.
2. Write what you like reading. It's fairly good advice. If we like reading something, chances are we will like writing something. Also, we have a good grasp of the way that type of writing works. But just because you like reading something doesn't necessarily mean you will like writing it. Someone who likes reading murder mysteries may find the idea of writing one themselves quite overwhelming. By all means, write what you like to read, but only if you feel you want to write that type of material.
I think the best advice on what to write is to write what you want to. Forget about whether it's what you know or whether it's the stuff you like to read. If you want to write something, then write it. Even if you find you are not very good at writing it, your skills can always be improved. Think about what you would write if you knew you couldn't fail. Then try and write it.
You should keep in mind the type of writing you would be best at, and how your skills and experiences can help you in your written work. But don't let this stop you writing what you really want to write.
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
You make an insightful point when you say that one can also write feelings and experiences.
And I'd add that one can also simply write, and not decide in advance.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy