Do you write about something you are familiar with, or make things up as you go?

Question

I know many authors write stories set in the very hometown they live in, or a place where they have lived in for a significant period of time.

I tend to write about places I've never been before and imagine up people I've never met, and more often than not run out of steam after the first few chapters. I'm thinking this time to incorporate real-life things I've heard, seen and done into my fiction...but have some difficulties doing so.

Advice appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Everyone writes about some they know about. Take for example, you want to write about space travel in 2650 AD. You'd still be writing about what you know about, even if you know nothing about space travel, stars, and astro-physics.

Stories are basically about people, not about things. Places and clothing and jobs and housing, etc. are just the exterior of the story. They might be the setting of the story, but the story is essentially about the people and the conflict and resolution.

Too often new writers are afraid to write about where they live because they think that is "boring". However, Stephen King writes so often about Maine, and John Steinbeck wrote about the Salinas Valley, because that is where they lived. And, if you've ever been to those places, you'll not find more boring places anywhere.

So the key is not where a story takes place, it's what the story is.

Answer 2

I'm working on a fantasy story, where I do all my own world building. I write what I know, based on all the fantasy books I've read. I also incorporate a lot of Celtic mythology in my writings.

You probably run out of steam, not because you don't write what you are familiar with, but because you haven't thought your story fully through. Start with an outline, create some character sheets, get an idea for your backstory.

The more you know about the history of your story, the more details you can incorportate. It will give the needed depth to your world/story.

Also, the structure of your story is very important. Check out "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler. His approach to story structure helped me to create a better, solid plot.

Good luck and just keep on writing!!

Answer 3

Things you have experienced and folk you have met have a greater impact on you and so you can bring in the emotional aspect of the drama. Describing the way love, for instance, has been a force in your life will help the vocabulary and the originality as your experience will have been unique. Real folk, the ones you have feelings for score every time over the paper cut-outs of the imagination. In the end, after many years you will be able to do both, but for now the best writing will come from what you have felt and how you felt it. Best of luck.

Answer 4

I tend to stick with things I know or places I've been.
For example, For the high school I have in my book I based the look of the outside on a high school I saw on tv and the look of the inside on my own high school.

The home town is not based on anything other then my imagination of what a peaceful seaside viliage would be. There are aspects of it that i've taken from my life though, like their city park.

The main characters are not based on anyone in my life, but again, I stick with the feelings I know so I can write about them honestly.

Answer 5

I think it's best to do both. I really enjoy stories where I learn something. So having a bit of realistic detail in there is geat. Whether it's just one setting or whether it's about a career or skill, I like leaning about those type of things.

That said, feel free to use your imagination. After all, that's what fiction is about. Consider weaving in realistic elements like habit or characteristic from someone you know or have seen. This way you're not constantly relying on your imagination (which can be rather freeing.)

Answer 6

Take what you know and then take a detour. When a key event happens, ask, "What if ...?" and see where that takes you.

For new and interesting characters, I take a note book to the airport and watch the personalities there. you can see some strong emotions at airports:
- Goodbye / Welcome home tears
- rushing for their plane
- dragging kids around after a boring 4 hour flight
- "What did you people do with my bags?
- cowboys, sports teams, expensive business suits

It is a great place to cure writer's block ... if only the parking cost less ...