Writing What you Know

I spent a good portion of my youth living in New England where the Boston Cream Pie was born. Like me, my husband loves them. So what better way could I honor his birthday than to make him a Boston Cream Cake? Here's a picture of what the cake is suppose to look like.

Now I'm not a bad cook. Unlike many woman I know, I actually enjoy cooking. It relaxes me. But this recipe was HARD! I'm embarrassed to show you this picture, but in the interest of illustrating my point I'll swallow a little pride.

Happy Birthday Clint!

Sad, huh? I made it in something of a rush.

How often as writers do we get a grand story or character idea that we don't have the knowledge base to support? I know I just finished writing a story about a blacksmith because I thought I could easily make him burley and sexy. A real man. No sparkles required. What did I know about blacksmiths? Very little.

So often we are told to write what we know. Well, I really have a problem with that. Clearly I knew nothing about making this type of cake. As my good friend Jo would say, EPIC FAIL! But I won't let that stop me from trying it again. And again. And again, if that's what it will take to get it right.

Just as I will not let my current knowledge base limit me from writing what I want to write.

I believe it is our job as writers to become experts at what we write. We need to know what it feels like to shoot that bow and arrow if we're using them in our stories. We need to try rock climbing, experience the rush of sailing, test drive that viper that we used as our "getaway" car, go visit a medical lab, or have a bon fire on the beach. How can we truly capture an experience in words if we have not lived it or studied it?

So, Yes! for heaven's sake write what you know. But get off your butt and live so your reader won't have to read about faxing mail orders or changing diapers or turning right at a red light. To be a writer you have to be willing to live. To conquer fears. To study a subject till you're sick to death of it. To take chances. To be absolutely reckless at times.

Who knows? After all of the experiencing and studying you might just find yourself eating a pretty awesome slice of Boston Cream Cake.

I fully intend to.