Write What You Know...

When I first started writing romances, I had heard the age old adage just like everyone else: Write what you know. Okay. I thought that sounded like good advice. And what did I know? Well, I had learned a whole bunch by reading historical romance novels, especially medieval - I’ve always had a soft spot for knights in shining armour *grin* - and I’d done lots of research on the Vikings and their history for sheer interest sake. So when I sat down to write my first romance novel, I started one about Vikings in Scotland. The usual pillaging and plundering, with my Viking hero stealing a beautiful Scottish lass, and whisking her away to his lair where he would "persuade" her to fall in love with him. But for some reason after five chapters the story died. I had nothing. Zip. My inspiration just up and left. But I was determined to write a romance. So next I tried a Viking/Irish story, where a beautiful young woman who is actually an Irish Princess, is kidnapped and thrown into slavery, and there the Viking hero buys her and bends her to his will only to fall in love with her. Sounds like a good story right? Apparently not, for again, my muse died after one chapter. I can tell you I was starting to get worried.

At this time in my life I was experiencing a turbulent love affair. And when the whole mess was finally over, I was left completely heart broken, depressed and angry. I was in emotional hell. And then in a flash of inspiration, a story came to me, of a medieval young woman (much like myself) who experiences heart break at the hands of the man she loves, only to be re-united with him several years later to find she still loves him. Of course in the book, those two got to have a happy ending (unlike my own life). But I was amazed as page after page, and chapter after chapter flowed out of me. Of course, I must confess that all my life I have used writing to express my happiness, pain, or sorrow. And this was no exception. But it was through this story, which became my first novel that I truly understood the saying "Write what you know". It doesn’t mean to write about all that research you’ve been doing for the last three months on Scottish history, but to draw upon your own experiences, to borrow from the people around you and write it into the story of your heart. I can attest that each and every one of my novels is filled with my blood, sweat and tears, not to mention the experiences of those I know or have known. Because I finally experienced fierce love, passion, and heart break, I was able to write about it. If I hadn’t, I doubt I’d be writing romances right now.

Write what you know - good words to write by...