Writers are advised by editors, agents, academic and self-appointed experts to write about what they know. Some people have pointed out that would be boring. As writers we live in a world of imagination. Some tend to exaggerate, or have a quirky point of view, but many of us simply wonder what’s beyond the known world. We daydream, pay close attention to and analyze our sensory experience, and experiment with ideas. In other words, we go beyond the bounds of ordinary existence. In a way our characters are avatars for ourselves as we explore a made-up world, one created from what we know and what we are curious to know.
When I wrote Miami Morning, I broke the rule on writing what you know. Instead, I was fascinated by what I could learn about topics that were new to me. As I wrote, for instance, I was challenged, just as my main character was by how little I knew about the lives of moderately and severely disabled people.
I’d been inspired to write about this subject through my participation in a group that included disability advocates and therapists, some of them also persons with disabilities. But I soon realized that I needed to do more research. With suggestions from a member of the group, and my own thoughts, I searched online for information. I was amazed at the depth and breadth of articles, photographs, blogs and videos on this subject, worldwide, and going back in time.
I was in new territory, and yet, as a human being, I realized that I was on familiar ground. I have suffered from disabling illness for periods of time, and I’ve known someone disabled in an accident. The disabled are part of the narrative of ordinary life. We are all in fact part of the same narrative, that of physically and mentally embodied human beings. I had crossed the border into what I didn’t know only to find myself.
In my book, so to speak, it’s okay to write what you don’t know, as long as you make every effort to come to know it. Whether you write paranormal fiction, historical fiction, mysteries or horror stories, you may only be going into the unknown to find yourself there.
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Reblogged this on The Owl Lady.
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Thanks, The Owl Lady! I’ll check out your site.
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Reblogged this on TINA FRISCO and commented:
Mary Clark is a guest on The Story Reading Ape, discussing Learning as You Write: “it’s okay to write what you don’t know, as long as you make every effort to come to know it.” When I began writing my latest novel, I thought no research would be involved. Was I taken by surprise? You bet. And I thoroughly researched everything for the sake of authenticity. Hop over to Chris’ blog to read about Mary’s personal experience . . .
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Thanks for sharing Mary’s post Tina 😀 XXX
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Welcome, Chris 😀 XXX
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Thanks, Tina! You’re the bee’s knees!
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Welcome, Mary 🙂
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Reblogged this on Claire Plaisted – Indie Author and commented:
Learn as you write….
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Thanks for sharing Claire 😀
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Thank you very much, Claire. I look forward to visiting your site.
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Always happy to help 🙂
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog.
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Thanks Don 😃
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Thanks very much, Don! Appreciated!
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You’re welcome
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Reblogged this on Mary Clark, Writer.
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Thank you, Kevin. That’s a good way of looking at it – expanding one’s knowledge. All the best, Mary
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I agree that the world would be a boring place where writers to stick to only writing what they know. The intelligent person is constantly seeking new knowledge and their known is in a state of flux. Being registered blind I was interested to read that your books pertains to the lives of people with disabilities. The fact that you know, have worked with and research this subject means that your known experience has expanded so I dont see any problem with you writing such a book, indeed it is great that you took the time to understand the subject/people about which you wrote. Kevin
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