I've heard many times, that we need to write what we know, not what we think we should write about. This usually means we end up writing about personal experiences, people in our lives, and our dreams. And this means we constantly tell secrets about ourselves, even if we don't know it or intend to.
Rupert and Petra are complete opposites just like Cale and me. Ann's anxiety was birthed after my car accident. She also runs because of the joy I felt when I was finally able to run a mile again. Farrah is confident and outspoken because I was very shy and introverted in middle school. In 'Taught by Sister' the older sister pushes the younger sister up a hill, saves her from drowning and a tornado, because I wouldn't have any clue what to do in life without my sister. Samantha refuses to be called Sam because I hate it when people call me Julia instead of Juliana.
I often wonder how many secrets writers give away knowingly, and unknowingly, in their writing.
I am 20k into my new WIP while I work on the last edits for Rupert (I know, I know- there is no such thing as last edits). I have the goal to write 2k words a day and am very excited to see what I discover about myself while I write.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDelete2k words a day is what Jack London wrote, and he was a full-time writer. You're not. So that sounds like a high number, unless you're not concerned at that point about quality, just getting something down on paper or the the computer. I think I'd have a hard time producing 2k words per day. Maybe once in a while I could, but that's probably it. But, that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI have no clue what to do in life without you too.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting concept. I've never thought of it like that before. I wonder what secrets I give away. I don't know. Hmmm...for me, I almost would say you don't see me in the writing as much as you see the opposite of me. My female characters tend to be tough and strong and capable--maybe in the right circumstance I could be as well. My humor is in my writing (I think I'm pretty funny :) I also love to use friends names, or their kids' names as characters or places in my book. Oh, wait--Desert Rice is set in Wickenburg, Arizona where my mother-in-law lives. I knew the place and so I chose it as the backdrop for the story. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
~Angela