To write what you know or to not.

[newcitywriter]

Hi all,
Every time I put pen to paper (or more often fingers to keyboard), I write about something that's happened to me. My female characters are me. I have read 'write what you know' and I find that it comes easy to me, but I feel I'm not using my imagination.

Ironic given I read fantasy and sci-fi. But it feels like everything's been done, everything's been written, anything I write will be ripping off other people.

So at the moment I'm feeling frozen writing wise.

[Julian]

Thing is, when you start to consider a story as more than a story it starts to lose its appeal. I think that people should detract more from their lives when writing fiction because, well, it is not you. A story is a story and a fiction is a fiction and reality is reality. End of story.

Ermmm why do you feel that you are ripping off other people's ideas? Nothing is original in life even though many people tell you otherwise and that is also applicable for writing. Sure it may have the same plot with identical characters but your story can never be the same as the story next door (unless you rewrite the story word-per-word but with a different structure lol. That's illegal xD). Sooner or later, you will eventually find your own ideas and make your own story. Do you think that the world of Hogwarts is completely original? it's called inspiration.

Finally, when you are writing, your are bound to use your imagination. Now, I understand why you feel that you are lacking of imagination. My only advice for you is: do not be afraid to tell what you know not of. Imagine things that have never happened to you and transcribed them on paper. Sometimes some research may do you good but don't make that stop you from writing.

[thecollector]

You have a point. Plots are drying up in some ways, BUT it only gives you a new deal- a challenge to write something in a different way. Anyone can write a fantasy story that is like Lord of the Rings, but only a select few can write a story about a world so intricate it TOPS Lord of the Rings. Get what I'm saying? Write it and neglect whatever HAS BEEN done. Just focus on you, writing the best plot and storyline you can, to a level where it takes your genre to the next level...catch my drift?

I choose to write a plethora of things, but mostly, I write about what I don't know. It gives me a chance to use my mind and create something non-everyday. So, I would suggest that, but do some research if you're trying to make it realistic. At the same time, I would intertwine some things you do know about so it gets a little in depth.

Hope this helps
-Will

[newcitywriter]

Thanks. I'm now working on a writing exercise based on experiences I don't have. It's a first step :-)

[SapphireSeaBird]

Writing what you know is useful to a certain extent, 'cause it will make your writing more believable, but keep in mind fiction certainly doesn't have to be 100% correct. If everything you write is based on you and your experiences, everything you write is going to become quite similar and even more notably, your characters will become very same-y and lose depth. If you always write about charcters like you and your own experiences, you will be drawing a fine line between fiction and autobiography.
I would say, write what you don't know, but add in what you DO know every know and then if you want to make it more personal.
As for characters, venture as far out into the "Don't know" land as you possibly can. You want your character to be interesting, individual and all have a lot of depth, which won't work if you are the role model for every single one. If you want you could take one of your own traits and give it to a character, but no more than that.
And certainly not everything has been done. Try going to the Writing Exercises area on the site, a lot of the stuff there is useful in generating new ideas. Think up something wild and insane and "out there" that's never been done before and mould it into a new story.