Storiest
Experienced
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2012
- Posts
- 74
Why would you choose to write about something that's "way out of [your] element?" While "Write what you know" is actually more about writing about emotional knowledge rather than experiential knowledge, to me, "way out of my element" means something at which I have neither experience nor an emotional connection.
I can write about killing and be reasonably believable, though I've never killed anyone, because I've *WANTED* to kill and actually taken time to consider ways, means, and avoidance of capture/punishment. (Failure to be even halfway confident in that last factor was a large factor in deciding to let the son of a bitch live.) I can NOT write about the stresses and joys and all the other facets of being a successful surgeon, because I don't have *any* of the experience, and there's a bit of a squick factor in the thought of cutting into a living body and excising (or even repairing) the bits and pieces therein.
I think you need to reconsider the central aspects of this character in your stories, and put her in a position with which you can, at least emotionally, identify to some degree.
I'm challenging myself and it's on request. I know how to write a compelling relationship I think, but I always research my topics. And I'm modest I guess. I'm just struggling with the imagery. Thanks for the honest advice though.