My friend Joyce Magnin—the talented author of the Bright’s Pond series, among other things—has been blogging in the last several days on the writing life. I’ve loved, in particular, her thoughts on writing what you know:
From the age of nine to fifty I had many experiences, trials and tribulations, joy and sorrow. All of which have gone into my bank of knowing. This is what I think the statement means. I’ve known joy. So I can write about joy. I’ve known grief, so I can write about grief. That’s how it works.
I love this post. It’s full of wisdom in four short paragraphs. That is how “it” works.
Shawn Colvin has this brilliant song, “Monopoly,” in which she sings of a relationship that has ended badly (or perhaps just sadly). She’d like to stop thinking about him but can’t get him off her mind. So she writes a song—and it’s sad and full of longing and regret (she discusses how deeply personal—uncomfortably so—the song is in an interesting interview here). At the end, she reveals that she’s been writing what she knows: “Music, it never goes / But I tell you I hate that sh*t / When people say, ‘Well, you know / You got a song out of it.’”
And that’s what Joyce means, too: life, fully experienced (at any age), yields an abundance of knowing to write about. Read her whole post here. And then go write what you know!
Tweet: At least you got a blog post out of it!
Tweet: Life yields an abundance of knowing to write about.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”