I was
chatting with another author about some old books I dug out and was re-reading
from years ago. You know, way back in the ice age when ebooks didn’t exist.
She
said, “Oh, so you actually read the kind of books you write.”
That
took me a bit by surprise. “Well, yeah, of course.” Um?
Sure I
began to write toward a trend, but it was a trend I love, have loved for as
long as I’ve been reading. But the conversation made me think.
There’s
a writerly saying that goes: Write what you know.
Well,
I’ve never had magical powers or have time traveled to the past, so that’s a
bit out of my experience range. Plus, boring. I don’t want to read what I
already know. I want the fantasy of doing things I’ve never done.
Besides,
even though writing is hard work, it’s also amazingly fun.
Always
Write What You Love.
And
then research anything you don’t know. That’s part of the enjoyment.
Let
your own joy and excitement lift off the pages of your book. Readers can feel the
depth of a writer’s enjoyment, even if you are gleefully taking your enjoyment
writing a deranged bad guy. They will feel it. I believe that.
So
that’s my hope for all of you this month. Write What You Love. Now go forth and
create in this beautiful month of May.
