How do you “write what you know” when you have bad recall?

[Tallyfire]

What you're actually concerned with is making your writing immersive.

If I may say so, if that's the case, you're focusing on the wrong things. As writers, we don't just rely on memory, especially in fiction. We face that challenge when writing situations or places we've never been in before, and I imagine that every fiction writer has been there. What we have to do is use our memories and imaginations. Imagine the feelings of being there, and imagine the things you can see. Then describe *that*.

If I want to write an immersive description of a space casino, I'll imagine what it looks like (probably based on the casinos I've been in), and some space elements, like a gas giant out of the window or something and try to write that. I will add in any details I can think of that will make it seem more exotic and more sci-fi, and then only if it adds to the setting. For example, if I want to add some aliens in, I'll base that on, maybe, the cantina at Mos Eisley. I don't need to take my real experiences of being in a casino to make it immersive. If any such experiences come to me, and I think they'll add to the writing, I can put them in, but they're not necessary.

In general, develop your writing craft by often *not* writing based on your physical experiences. That way, you don't have to rely on it. Don't sweat the fact that you can't remember every detail. Readers aren't going to be interested in all of it anyway.

YES, that’s the word. I want to write immersive fiction. I think I must have expressed myself poorly in earlier posts though because I really don’t think every detail needs to be based in reality… the things I’m thinking of would just be the cherry on top of the imagination cake. I prefer fairly sparse writing.

It’s very interesting you suggest actively not writing from experience. I hadn’t ever thought of it from that angle, but it’s an approach I should try. (Obviously all the sci-fi and space-based concepts I come up with are not from experience, but I never approached it that way.) Is that something you learned from experience or did you pick that idea up somewhere? (= if you have books please recommend them. I’m in heavy study mode right now.)

 

[Naomasa298]

It’s very interesting you suggest actively not writing from experience. I hadn’t ever thought of it from that angle, but it’s an approach I should try. (Obviously all the sci-fi and space-based concepts I come up with are not from experience, but I never approached it that way.) Is that something you learned from experience or did you pick that idea up somewhere? (= if you have books please recommend them. I’m in heavy study mode right now.)

Don't get me wrong, you should use your own experiences, certainly in terms of emotions, people you know and for some details but don't rely on it and *only* write using them. Instead, practise writing about things you don't know or have never experienced. If you've never, for example, been in a desert, or a very dense forest, try looking at pictures of them and imagine yourself there, and write that as a scene. Your experience informs, it doesn't dictate.

Remember that you have five senses. Use them all. Describe sounds, smells, temperature, and if relevant, tastes. But learn to be restrained. Don't overwhelm readers. Put in *enough* detail but don't do it excessively. Help them to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks, don't spell it all out for them. And remember to keep it in the perspective that you're writing, so if you're writing first or close third, limit it to what the POV character experiences - and they won't experience everything.

 

[Sandor]

I think "write what you know" isn't strictly true. For me it's write what you care about, write what interests you, write what comes to your mind. I tend to write people that remind me of people I've met and talk like people I've met, but I also write people I've imagined.

I kind of see it like a stew pot - the broth is your mind and the overall idea, the base of your character. Are they a hero, a villain, a weirdo added for flavor or to add to the setting? The ingredients on the other hand are the details. The fresh ingredients are the things that come from your imagination, things you've researched, books you've read, movies you've watched, and so on. The leftovers, the things fermented, are bits and pieces from your life. While you can make a stew out of just fresh ingredients, you'll probably add in leftovers - they add a lot of flavor and are already in your fridge, so you don't have to go getting more.

My recall is terrible too, so I hope this helps. Overall, I wouldn't worry about writing what you know - it'll sneak in there because it's you writing it, not someone else.

 

[Tallyfire]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question! This has been such an interesting learning experience for me. I can go back to my writing with a changed eye, and I'm looking forward to it. This is all I could have hoped for when I joined this forum!

I kind of see it like a stew pot - the broth is your mind and the overall idea, the base of your character. Are they a hero, a villain, a weirdo added for flavor or to add to the setting? The ingredients on the other hand are the details. The fresh ingredients are the things that come from your imagination, things you've researched, books you've read, movies you've watched, and so on. The leftovers, the things fermented, are bits and pieces from your life. While you can make a stew out of just fresh ingredients, you'll probably add in leftovers - they add a lot of flavor and are already in your fridge, so you don't have to go getting more.

My recall is terrible too, so I hope this helps. Overall, I wouldn't worry about writing what you know - it'll sneak in there because it's you writing it, not someone else.

That's a really nice way to look at it. Thanks for that.

 

[Sandor]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question! This has been such an interesting learning experience for me. I can go back to my writing with a changed eye, and I'm looking forward to it. This is all I could have hoped for when I joined this forum!


That's a really nice way to look at it. Thanks for that.

You're very welcome!