Write What You Know

The Author's Blog - Pen to Paper

1. Write What You Know

I’m sure you have heard the expression that if you’re going to tell a story, you should ‘write what you know.’ Well, this is absolutely true. When I decided to write a book, I picked a topic, recorded the main concept and theme, for my book, and then started my research. I spent days, weeks researching events, cultures, colloquialisms and from all that exploration, I was only able to generate a few sentences from thirty or forty hours of work. At the end of a month, I was convinced that writing a book was going to take years.

It even occurred to me that perhaps, having the desire to write a book and having the ability to do so were not parallel but opposing forces. Honestly, I almost gave up before I started. That said, I decided that quitting so quickly on a dream was not an opinion. Nevertheless, I stopped and thought about an approach, you know, "how in the world do I begin?"

One evening while my wife was watching a show or movie on television, it came to me. I can’t recall which program or film she was watching. However, the source is not relevant. What is important is what happened during that viewing. Someone on screen asked another person, for directions to Carnegie Hall. I will never forget the response since I could have cared less about the question.

"So, you want to know how to get to Carnegie Hall?" This older gentlemen displaying a paisley scarf around his neck and wearing a matching red bow tie questioned back.

"Yes, please."

This heavy set man toting a violin case under his right arm responded back, “Well sir, I’ll tell you; it just takes practice, practice, practice.” Then the portly fellow turned and walked away.

I was just as surprised with the odd response as the person on screen. However, when I thought about the answer, I received an epiphany. If I want to be a fair or perhaps a great writer someday, I need to practice. That night I sat down and started writing. Since I had no clue what to write about I decided to start simple. I explained in writing a trip to TJ Maxx several days before. This was easier than I thought and required a lot more words then I would have imagined. In a few hours had had written pages on a simple fifteen minute trip.

My wife walked up behind me just before I was finished and asked what I was writing.

"Just a short narrative," I replied back nonchalantly.

"You should write one of those stories you shared with me and the kids this Christmas. You had everyone so entertained." My wife added casually.

"I honestly couldn’t remember a single story, I told several months before, so I asked her. "What story would you suggest sweetie?"

"I know, why don’t you share the one about being in Hong Kong with your friends and one of them falling over-the-side on the ferry ride back to the mainland."

"Oh, that story."

"Sure, you tell it so well."

"Thank you sweetie; but it was easy to tell, since I lived it."

Ha, and Bob’s your Uncle. There is the moral of the story. “Write what you know.” In time, your imaginings can be brought to life just as if you had lived it. It just takes practice, practice, practice.

Good luck and keep pen to paper.