Thursday
Sep292011
Spend Some Time Living Before You Start Writing
Spend some time living before you start writing. What I find to be very bad advice is the snappy little sentence, “Write what you know.” It is the most tiresome and stupid advice that could possibly be given. If we write simply about what we know we never grow. We don't develop any facility for languages, or an interest in others, or a desire to travel and explore and face experience head-on. We just coil tighter and tighter into our boring little selves. What one should write about is what interests one.
ANNIE PROULX
Posted on 
Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 12:06AM
Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 12:06AM
Reader Comments (1)
I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. We are often told to write what we know, yet it is the most nonsensical sentiment ever! If you want to stifle flair and imagination then write only what you know. If you only want to write boring, stilted, fact-filled non-fiction, then write only what you know. In my opinion folk who spout this creed, don't have an inkling of true originality. I say be a free thinker, don't be afraid to experiment or make mistakes along the way. We all have to learn.
Creative writing is about writing to create.