Comments on: Writing Antarctic literature – Now that’s got to come from experience http://becomingafictionwriter.com/2010/01/writing-antarctic-literature-now-thats-got-to-come-from-experience/ One girl, one dream ... and a whole lot of procrastination Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:24:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: amanda http://becomingafictionwriter.com/2010/01/writing-antarctic-literature-now-thats-got-to-come-from-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-11478 amanda Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:27:23 +0000 http://becomingafictionwriter.com/?p=403#comment-11478 Very nicely put, Kristan. I especially like the "emotional truth" idea, that makes a lot of sense. Very nicely put, Kristan. I especially like the “emotional truth” idea, that makes a lot of sense.

]]> By: Kristan http://becomingafictionwriter.com/2010/01/writing-antarctic-literature-now-thats-got-to-come-from-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-11477 Kristan Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:59:31 +0000 http://becomingafictionwriter.com/?p=403#comment-11477 I think "write what you know" can have so many meanings. And just like "show, don't tell" and "voice is king," the latest publishing maxims, it's just a guideline, not a strict rule. For me, "write what you know" can refer to literal truth, or emotional truth. Like you said, you can find out more about things (living in Africa, or what it's like to lose a sibling), but if you're having to look up *every* element of your story, it's unlikely to be successful. So I like to push myself out of my comfort zone but putting emotional truths that I know into new characters or situations I'm unfamiliar with, OR vice versa. I think it's that combo that helps keep me interested as a writer, but also lets me feel comfortable enough to stick with it. .-= Kristan´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kristanhoffman/~3/sRHWS3IB9Kc/" rel="nofollow">Snippets: Get it?</a> =-. I think “write what you know” can have so many meanings. And just like “show, don’t tell” and “voice is king,” the latest publishing maxims, it’s just a guideline, not a strict rule.

For me, “write what you know” can refer to literal truth, or emotional truth. Like you said, you can find out more about things (living in Africa, or what it’s like to lose a sibling), but if you’re having to look up *every* element of your story, it’s unlikely to be successful.

So I like to push myself out of my comfort zone but putting emotional truths that I know into new characters or situations I’m unfamiliar with, OR vice versa. I think it’s that combo that helps keep me interested as a writer, but also lets me feel comfortable enough to stick with it.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Snippets: Get it? =-.

]]>