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"Write what you know" is a piece of writing advice that gets a lot of scrutiny and backlash.
Which, fair. It's not the least rude phrase in the world.
But I think that this writing advice exists for a reason, that it's valid, and sometimes it's just misinterpreted, by both the person giving the advice and the person receiving it.
“Write what you know” really means “write what you understand.”
Read moreEvery writer wants their readers to care not only about their characters as individuals, but about the connections between those individuals. We want to hear that they ship two characters, or that the fight between those two friends broke their heart. We want them to obsess over the slightest touch of two characters' hands.
Characters don't necessarily need to share the same interests to be compatible. A romantic partner doesn't need to be described as the most attractive person in all of existence. It's something else entirely that makes character relationships believable, relatable, and shippable.
Read moreOn the internet, the most common advice for developing characters I’ve found is to fill out a character questionnaire. It’s everywhere. What’s the best way to get to know your character, you ask? Fill out this form, they answer.
This may work perfectly for some people, but I look at those things and die a little on the inside.
I know I can’t be the only person who hates character questionnaires, so if you’re not a fan of forms and also have no idea where to start with your character, I thought I would share my list of things I know about my characters before I start writing.
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