How many times have we all heard that old saw “write what you know”? What does that even mean?
Many take this as advice to write only about our areas of expertise, what we have studied, where we have been. The implication is that if we are not well versed in our subject matter that we will slip up somehow and that our ignorance cannot help but be revealed.
Author: Yvonne Hertzberger
Yvonne Hertzberger is a native of the Netherlands who immigrated to Canada in 1950. She is an alumna of The University of Waterloo, with degrees in psychology and Sociology. Her Fantasy trilogy, ‘Earth’s Pendulum’ has been well received. Learn more about Yvonne at her blog and her Amazon author page.
What To Eat in Bargia
Food has been on the brains of many of us lately. Apparently that means writing has taken a back seat. So just to make sure the rest of you don’t get back to business before I do and jump ahead of me here is a post I wrote for Shelley Workinger’s blog (with minor edits). Drool on.
WHAT TO EAT IN BARGIA:
My trilogy, Earth’s Pendulum, takes place in an imaginary old world society. Think agrarian city state, on a large island isolated from other influences. The climate is temperate, akin to what Ireland might have, or England.
Now when I create my world, while it is not a real place, I still want my readers to be able to place themselves there, to see it in their minds, to hear the speech of the characters. Both the setting and the characters must be believable. Continue reading “What To Eat in Bargia”
It’s Too Dark in Here!
Ok, guys. Now you all already know funny is not my forte, right?
Sometimes I don’t even get it when I read it –well mostly I do, but some of the text shortcuts go over my old head. What? Stop Laughing. I am SO that old. Under this red coif is a full head of white hair. “Oh,” bat, bat, “you don’t think I look my age. Aw, you’re so sweet. It’s nice to humour the elderly … But don’t think I don’t see through you, flatterer. So stop patronizing me.”
“But you’re throwing me off my game, here. Thought you could distract me from my ‘seriousness’, eh? Well I’m not senile yet. So listen up.”
I Mean, Dude!
Well, wouldn’t you know it, they want me to write something funny. For some reason the way we talk isn’t good enough. How come? I’m not complaining, mind, it doesn’t do any good anyhow. But, well, I could try, if the weather holds, or something like that. Then maybe I would live happily ever after. Whatever. But, oh my god, this is, like, so hard, you know? So I’m supposed to think outside the box. Yeah right. Do they even know what that means? I mean, Dude! Come on! Meh. What do I care? Anyhow, I’m giving them what they want, right? I mean, really, it’s what I have to do. Being a team player, not making waves. Seriously. Like, no way. No can do. I’m an individual, see? You know what I mean. I’m OK, you’re OK, blah, blah, blah. Same old, same old. Continue reading “I Mean, Dude!”