Writing Fiction From Experience
by Makayla Nielson
As writers, one of the most constant pieces of advice we receive is: write what you know. It’s well-meaning advice, given to help writers share stories from places of experience. It’s meant to help your writing connect with readers in a way that’s relatable and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, very few of us have sailed on the Dawn Treader or visited the Shire, and it seems that there were quite a few Hogwarts letters lost in the mail… So, for those of us who are still checking the mailbox, how does this advice fit into crafting other worlds, far away places, and different time periods, cultures, and characters who don't yet exist?
There are four subjects you can focus on to keep your writing rooted in what you know, while still exploring the unknown:
Feelings: Whether human, mermaid, dwarf, or centaur, feelings are universal. No matter the species of your character, they likely experience and understand human emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, hope, and longing. For example, an alien soldier in another galaxy may grapple with the loss of a comrade just as a modern-day businessman would grieve the loss of a friend. These emotions and feelings transcend the barriers of the unknown, tethering readers securely to the characters you have created.
Senses: Using all five senses in your writing will help immerse your readers into the world you’ve created without them ever having stepped foot there. We might not know what a mermaid’s lagoon looks like, but we can describe the salty tang of the air, the glint of the sun’s reflection off the water, the warmth of the sun, and the grit of the sand. Using smell, taste, sight, sound, and touch all combine and give power to your writing to connect your readers to the unknown on a tangible level.
Experiences: Your own experiences are an invaluable source of material to draw from, even if the circumstances you write about are far removed from reality. Perhaps you’ve never traversed through space to find Treasure Planet or “sailed off through night and day” to Where the Wild Things Are, but you’ve felt the swelling of excitement and anxiety on the eve of a new beginning, and the fear or guilt of facing a problem you’ve created for yourself. These experiences that cause those feelings we know so well can create the backbone of an adventure. You can use the knowledge of what it feels like to succeed, to struggle, or to face a challenge—regardless of its scale or genre—to make your stories come to life for your readers.
Imagination: This is an important component to consider, especially in the realm of fiction, because imagination is relatable! Everyone dreams and imagines, whether it’s about their own idealistic future or about how the earth looked when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Imagination allows us to build new worlds, create new creatures and new abilities, and string together conversations that have never been spoken aloud. Imagination exists on different planes for each person, but it is something everyone can relate to on some level.
Writing what you know, while applying the four subjects above, can help you craft unique and diverse characters with realistic personalities and development, and bring your story to life with vivid settings.
Unique and Diverse Characters: In creating unique and diverse characters, you connect to readers by presenting complex personalities and experiences. Even in a world of magic, readers relate to the characters’ fears, goals, and internal conflicts. A well-crafted character, human or not, becomes a mirror of sorts to the reader’s own life.
Personality and Character Development: Every character is shaped by their background, experiences, and interactions with the world. Their unique traits, fears, desires, and motivations create depth and relatability. Just as in real life, characters evolve, face challenges, and make mistakes. These transformations reflect the human experience, regardless of their fantastical surroundings.
Vivid Settings: Writers can make even the most outlandish or otherworldly settings come alive by drawing on the familiar—whether it's a sprawling city that echoes real-world places or a forest full of magic that feels like home to the character. Describing the landscapes, the sky, the sounds, and even the atmosphere in ways that readers will relate to makes them feel grounded in the world, no matter how different it is from their own.
Writing rooted in imagination, real feelings, the five senses, and your own experiences makes a powerful combination that readers will be able to relate to, no matter the setting. Fuel your imagination and express your ideas in ways that are unique to you. Combining these elements will help your writing transport readers to new worlds, while keeping the familiar close.
Makayla Nielson
Makayla Nielson was raised in Normal, Illinois and currently resides in Lehi, Utah with her husband and three children. When she's not writing, she's out on adventures in the canyons near her home, watching science fiction movies, or crocheting (always with a snack or two within reach). She is currently the Contest Committee Chair for The League of Utah Writers and has published short stories in Flash Fiction Magazine and Stance: Studies on the Family along with articles in academic journals.