Comments on: SCREENWRITING TIPS: 5 Reasons Why Not to Write What You Know http://www.scriptxray.com/2008/12/04/screenwriting-tips-5-reasons-why-not-to-write-what-you-know/ screenwriting tips and services to help the screenwriter write an exceptional screenplay Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:52:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: JACK DOUGLAS http://www.scriptxray.com/2008/12/04/screenwriting-tips-5-reasons-why-not-to-write-what-you-know/comment-page-1/#comment-79 JACK DOUGLAS Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:08:19 +0000 http://www.scriptxray.com/?p=538#comment-79 Agree with all that, Christopher. Callie Khourie said 'write what you know AND what you don't know'. Without imagination theme becomes thematic. Agree with all that, Christopher. Callie Khourie said ‘write what you know AND what you don’t know’. Without imagination theme becomes thematic.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.scriptxray.com/2008/12/04/screenwriting-tips-5-reasons-why-not-to-write-what-you-know/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Christopher Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:14:29 +0000 http://www.scriptxray.com/?p=538#comment-78 I wish I were as lucky as you Areya -- the only thing I usually wake up with after a dream is a new fear I didn't know I had. Zombie, I think you're hitting the nail on the head -- by writing a variety of different stories, you're probably continuing your exploration of different themes and ideas, and therefore keeping it fresh yet personal; which is key. You remind me of Stephen King -- writing about a small town in your home town. Keep that up. I wish I were as lucky as you Areya — the only thing I usually wake up with after a dream is a new fear I didn’t know I had.

Zombie, I think you’re hitting the nail on the head — by writing a variety of different stories, you’re probably continuing your exploration of different themes and ideas, and therefore keeping it fresh yet personal; which is key.

You remind me of Stephen King — writing about a small town in your home town. Keep that up.

]]> By: Areya http://www.scriptxray.com/2008/12/04/screenwriting-tips-5-reasons-why-not-to-write-what-you-know/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Areya Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:17:06 +0000 http://www.scriptxray.com/?p=538#comment-75 I guess I'm a genius then! ;). But in all seriousness, I pay a lot more attention to my dreams than most, and probably therefore wake up with more thematic meaning from them. I'm pleased to say that I have never misinterpreted the phrase 'write what you know', since I always presumed that what a writer 'knew' was not limited to simply physical or intellectual knowledge. It also includes what a writer has learned during their existence (while awake AND asleep) and the conclusions that writer has made about human nature based on everything he/she has experienced or heard about. Translating all of that information into a story is where the true craft of storytelling is tested. I'm really glad you wrote this article because all writers need to know the difference between those two interpretations and which one will produce the better results. It's important to write what you know, but only if you're utilizing that advice the right way. Great observations! Beforehand, I didn't know so many people misinterpreted that advice so often. I guess I’m a genius then! ;) . But in all seriousness, I pay a lot more attention to my dreams than most, and probably therefore wake up with more thematic meaning from them. I’m pleased to say that I have never misinterpreted the phrase ‘write what you know’, since I always presumed that what a writer ‘knew’ was not limited to simply physical or intellectual knowledge. It also includes what a writer has learned during their existence (while awake AND asleep) and the conclusions that writer has made about human nature based on everything he/she has experienced or heard about. Translating all of that information into a story is where the true craft of storytelling is tested. I’m really glad you wrote this article because all writers need to know the difference between those two interpretations and which one will produce the better results. It’s important to write what you know, but only if you’re utilizing that advice the right way. Great observations! Beforehand, I didn’t know so many people misinterpreted that advice so often.

]]> By: Zombie http://www.scriptxray.com/2008/12/04/screenwriting-tips-5-reasons-why-not-to-write-what-you-know/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Zombie Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:16:08 +0000 http://www.scriptxray.com/?p=538#comment-74 Great post! I was especially guilty of this in my early writing - basing scripts on people I knew and things they'd done. I haven't completely shaken that instinct; for example, even though I've been living in NYC and briefly in Europe over the last decade, the bulk of my stories still find themselves set in Ohio, where I grew up. The difference, though, I guess is I'm writing a wider variety of stories based there - they're not all coming-of-age tales. I've got sci-fi and horror stories set in rural Ohio, thrillers, a martial arts spec... Great post! I was especially guilty of this in my early writing – basing scripts on people I knew and things they’d done. I haven’t completely shaken that instinct; for example, even though I’ve been living in NYC and briefly in Europe over the last decade, the bulk of my stories still find themselves set in Ohio, where I grew up. The difference, though, I guess is I’m writing a wider variety of stories based there – they’re not all coming-of-age tales. I’ve got sci-fi and horror stories set in rural Ohio, thrillers, a martial arts spec…

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