Write What You Know
One piece of literary advice that has always haunted me is to write what you know. It’s troublesome because on the surface, it stands in opposition to fiction writing.
Fictional characters and events are by definition of the word imagination, invented and untrue. How can you write what you know and still make things up? It happens all the time. Futuristic or dystopian stories, for example, are pure inventive conjecture.
Yet, there is a border line even in fictional literary compositions between pure imagination and knowledge. The stories about our future are best when there is understanding of present and even past scientific or technical elements.
What I Know
I chose to write Jack and Jill growing up and living starting in the same era as my own and ending in the present. Their understanding and mindset about the arts, socially acceptable behaviors and technology matures with the changes that occur in those decades is the same as mine.
I grew up and only knew a worldly view from the perspective of the ultra conservative Baptist vantage point. I questioned some of it, but as a child I was sure to question authority was wrong. As I matured and drew close to good people with slightly different view points and as society began to question social norms and understand others, so did I.
On my life’s journey, I experienced loss and victory, pain and ecstasy and living versus existing. I shed tears due to disappointment, rejection and even death. I also rejoiced from accomplishment, acceptance and life.
These are the things I knew and wrote about. Then, there are things I researched. There are things that are stereotypes. Then there are the things I just plain made up.
Outside My Box
I have no personal experience in the music industry or the theatre. I’ve never been to New York, Los Angeles or Hollywood. I did research on these, but I’ll not pretend to think everything I wrote is accurate. I hope it is believable and not offensive to any with more knowledge and experience where I lack it.
From a Childhood Cartoon
In my post, “My Current Project (So Far),” I share that Jill originates from a comic strip character drawn and scripted by my pubescent self. Jill Norris is Jane Norris in the strips.
My image of Ms. Norris is influenced by actresses like Marilyn, Mansfield and Jane Russell as well as raging hormones that needed a socially acceptable outlet. That’s probably why she is depicted super-curvy.
The weirdness of my young creative mind invented Ms. Norris and her usual leading man, Doug Edwardson (Duke in You’re the One) as the actress and actor. The comic story is the movie where they perform. The characters in the story are their roles.
Jack Frontenac began his existence as Doug Frontenac a singer and musician for the band calling themselves the Rhythmers. This was usually who I was when lip syncing to my favorite songs in the basement or out in our patio between the house and garage.
Know Backstory
Other than the comic strips which were their movies and the lip sync with Jack. I also drew and created their stories. So, when the idea hit me to tell their story in a novel, I already knew a lot about them.
Remembering it after all these decades came easy. I cannot always recall what I had for supper the previous night, someone’s name I met last week or the exact date of one of my twenty grandkid’s birthdays. Somehow though, special memories of junior high are crystal clear.
I wanted to write a story involving a rock band that is good but never famous. I think it represents a lot of good artists of all kinds. Some of the best artists are not always the most popular or well-known. I hesitated because I really don’t know much about the music industry.
I researched topics pertaining to the music industry. I researched the history of some rock bands. I still don’t know or understand enough to think I’ve done justice to the industry in this novel.
When the thought struck me to write my struggling artist story using my beloved and beautiful childhood characters, I no longer cared how much knowledge I obtained about musicians or thespians. I felt obligated to write about the characters who helped me survive the throes of junior high.
In an effort to remain as fair as possible to artists of genres I admit I don’t completely understand, I endeavor to make the novel Jack’s and Jill’s story mentioning as little as possible about their crafts’ nuances. In other words, I write mostly about what I know.
Categories: Sample writing
Douglas Knight
I have the rich life full of a sinner wounded by misunderstanding and punishment but blessed by mercy and forgiveness.
Knight Writer 