by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay
Last month, I wrote a post about “writing brilliantly” and a few truths that point us in that direction. One suggestion was to “write what you know.” Again, that piece of advice did not mean to only write within your direct experience. To me, that suggestion directs me to write of experiences I can touch, feel, taste and relate to – emotions and realities that I can translate across a variety of circumstances organically and authentically.
I stand by that advice… And here, I’ll qualify it too.
Don’t let what you know stay static! Let’s continually expand what we know so we have fresh things to say. Just as we stretch our muscles to keep us moving and healthy – let’s stretch our writing. Here are a few ways to attempt this:
- Read out of your genre.
- Read out of your comfort zone – I’m always attacking some great nonfiction/theology tome, and it’s always way over my head. 😉
- Keep a journal of ideas, thoughts, prayers, dynamic lists – I can make lists out of just about anything.
- Write articles and blog posts – regardless as to whether you ever submit them.
- Write letters (real handwritten ones) to friends and family.
- Watch documentaries; listen to audiobooks while working in the yard or commuting to work.
- Talk with writer friends about how they develop story and character. You’ll gain new approaches and new ways of thinking.
- Read craft books. Donald Maass is one of my favorites. Stephen King’s On Writing is a treasure.
- Attend conferences if and when you are able. You can learn so much from the camaraderie, agent meetings, editor meetings and classes – not only about writing, but about the business and the life of this industry.
- Have Fun! It has to be said – always. Enjoy the journey of stretching, learning, and, above all, writing.
Thanks for spending a moment here with me today…
Katherine
Mary Davies finds safety in her ordered and productive life. Working as an engineer, she genuinely enjoys her job and her colleagues – particularly a certain adorable and intelligent consultant. But something is missing. When Mary’s estranged childhood friend, Isabel Dwyer offers her a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in England, she reluctantly agrees in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways.
But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes she lives in Jane Austen’s Bath. While Isabel rests and delights in the leisure of a Regency lady, attended by other costume-clad guests, Mary uncovers startling truths about their shared past, who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who now stands between them.
Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings play out, and dancing ensues as this company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation, work out their lives and hearts.
Katherine Reay is the bestselling and award-winning author of Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy & Jane, The Bronte Plot, A Portrait of Emily Price, which released in November 2016 with Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and a Romantic Times TOP PICK! Her latest, The Austen Escape released November 2017. All Katherine’s novels are contemporary stories with a bit of classical flair. She holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, rehabbing runner, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine now happily resides outside Chicago, IL. You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay or Instagram: @katherinereay.