...and then publish what you know

I am in the midst of the busiest writing season of my life. This fall I had to turn in final drafts of forest born and the actor and the housewife. I'm in the process of going over the copy edited manuscript of a&h while also finishing the final draft of forest born. Fortunately I feel great about both books (at last!). But as the timing also coincides with Christmas time and other family obligations, I am crazed.

But I did want to do a brief followup to the last post. I'm writing this quickly, so forgive mistakes please.

Laura ZM and I had a little exchange in the comments for the last post. And she asks, "would you agree with "publish what you know"?" I absolutely agree that by the time you "finish" a book, you had best know what it is that you are writing about. You must know your characters, their environment, you must understand and detail with accuracy all that transpires. You are responsible for everything in that book. This is one reason why, for me, it's harder to write a fantasy in a created world than realistic fiction in the actual world. World building is intense and demanding. I have to get to know a place I've never been and try to base it in as much real world as I can to lend it authenticity. On the other hand, when I write about a woman living in Utah, it's all right there. For me, fantasy is harder and should not be taken lightly. Writers of fantasy know that this genre doesn't give you license to do whatever you want--rather it demands more of your attention and sweat and blood. (Though not as much, in my opinion, as historical fiction writers. To them I bow.)

Despite research, many editors and proof readers, years of writing and many drafts, I have made many mistakes in my books. I wish I didn't. But they happen. That's one of the risks I take when I write about what's outside my ken. Nevertheless, I am responsible for all the words in my book. So I do my best to make sure there aren't any mistakes.

When talking about fantasy, I don't mean to disparage those who write about their immediate world and look no further. If that's what fascinates you, that's perfect. I've heard Jane Austen criticized for only writing about people in her own narrow social strata, ignoring the greater world, the Napoleonic Wars going on around her, the lives of the people who were her characters' servants, etc. But she, I believe, wrote what fascinated her, and I love her for it. On the other hand, Shakespeare was fascinated by comedy and tragedy, the common man and kings, historical wars and fairies in the wood. He wasn't one to let "write what you know" limit him. And he got some stuff wrong. He changed historical facts, put impossible details into his stories. I do think fiction writers should avoid error, but fiction is not and should not be held up for exactness like non-fiction. (Please note that I'm talking about fiction writing--creative writing--not essay writing.) We're storytellers, but when we have incorrect information in the books, that can pull a reader out of a story, and that's a very bad thing. We work hard so the story seems easy.

I think one of the things I mistrust about the phrase "write what you know" is that it seems to prescribe only writing about what you know at the initiation of writing, dismissing the power of discovery that happens during the process of writing. I know things after finishing a book that I didn't know when I began--either because I had to do research to learn, or I experienced things through the character that I had never thought about before, or I simply meditated on and came to believe things. As I said to Laura ZM, I think writing fiction is more about exploration than explanation. But one reason why I do as many drafts as I do (12-30 or so) is so I get to the point where I do know my own story. I don't try to answer all the questions a story might raise, but I know those characters, I know that place, I know what happens. It starts as an unknown quest to lands unknown but becomes home.

Following topics and ideas and characters and stories that fascinate you will lead you to learn and know unexpected things. I don't want to know everything before I start a book, or else I will get bored, or I will be so sure of myself I'll fail at telling the story. A little insecurity, a little confusion can be a writer's friends. I start with what fascinates me, and the adventure begins.