We’ve all heard it. “Write what you know.” (Crystal would say “Write what you know and research the rest.)

But do you REALLY want me to write what I know?

I mean, do you want me to write about some of the familial weirdness that I’ve experienced? I’ll tell you a secret. You do.

Every time you pick up a Jennifer McKenzie book, you’re getting a peek into some of the weird stuff that made up my life experiences. Of course, my characters all behave infinitely more heroically than I do. For example, my heroines actually talk back. They kick butt and know how to take care of themselves a lot more than I do. In fiction, I get to give my characters a little more advantage.

But the angst, the twisted thinking and misunderstandings are true to MY life. I think the hardest scene I’ve ever written was a funeral scene. Shortly after my father passed away, I began my first manuscript. In it, my heroine experiences the death of her father and all of the aftermath. The funeral, the phone calls, the pain came out little by little. The funeral scene stumped me.

Something was wrong, but I couldn’t pin point it. Then, Dayna Hart mentioned something as I was brainstorming with her. She asked me “Why is the funeral scene in HIS point of view?”

It was a forehead slapping moment. Of course. To save myself from the pain, the feelings I had around my father’s funeral, I distanced myself (and consequently the reader) from the scene. I had to rewrite it in HER point of view.

Painful.

But I did it. When I finished, I was wrung dry. I think a good scene will do that, whether you’re writing it or reading it.

So, I’m thinking about writing a book about the angst of dog maintenance. Do you think it will sell? LOL.

6 Responses to “Write What You Know? Are you SURE?”

1. Crystal Jordan Says:
   August 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am

   Would that be a book about researching the rest? Or allll personal experience?

2. Shelli Stevens Says:
   August 15th, 2007 at 1:02 pm

   I think it’s great you’re able to use some of your real life issues in your books. I completely agree with the ‘write what you know’. I have to, otherwise I sound like an idiot
   I think Dayna made a great point! And I may have done the same thing, put it in his POV to avoid having to go that deep.

3. T. Sue VerSteeg Says:
   August 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm

   Hmm, a book on dog maintenance? Well, Dayna can probably cowrite it with you! As for the write what you know, that’s probably why I have a hard time with researching and keeping facts straight. I don’t get out much

4. Loribelle Hunt Says:
   August 15th, 2007 at 5:01 pm

   I like write what you know especially if it includes family craziness lol. In fact, many Southern writers have become quite famous doing that.
   We already talked about that writing painful stuff and how much of yourself you put into it or should put into it. It’s hard, but usually makes the story better. I’m still struggling with it myself.

5. R.G. Alexander Says:
   August 16th, 2007 at 12:34 am

   Apart from my recent heroine whose life and history is freaking me out-I usually write what I know But in a way I do know her-her emotions and insecurities if not her actual life experience. I think thats why we can push the envelope every once in a while. We can research jobs and cultures, but human nature is fairly universal.

   And I think if you decided to write a story about dog maintenance-it would rock

6. Alice Audrey Says:
   August 16th, 2007 at 11:44 am

   I think dog maintenance angst could be a lot of fun.