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TIL that 'write what you know' is holding back new authors
Everyone in my writing group keeps pushing this advice, but it just leads to boring stories about office jobs and suburban life. I read a sci-fi novel by a guy who works in insurance, and his world-building was amazing because he researched, not because he lived it. What's a prompt that forces you to write something you have zero experience with?
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annaw736mo ago
Tried a prompt that made me write from a deep sea diver's view. Never even snorkeled. Had to research submersibles, pressure, bioluminescence. Ended up with this tense scene about a hatch malfunction. Felt totally fresh. Sometimes you just need a random constraint to kick you out of your own head.
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craig.john6mo ago
Constraints force you to see things in a new way, it's like a creative shortcut.
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fiona9856mo ago
Try limiting yourself to only three colors.
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