From the Heart: Write What You Know

Every great writer will say that good writing is that which stirs the soul; that which brings an awakening in its readers. Good writing takes time and effort and care. Most of all, it takes heart, and lots of courage, lots and lots of courage. The courageous writer is not the one who spends their entire life in a fantasy world, but rather, the one that takes what's inside of them and opens it up for all the world to see. The writer, stripped of every fancy word, every fictional fantastical imaginative place, is the most beautiful thing in the world, for it is often when we are in this place, vulnerable to our readers, that we feel the most at peace. When everything is out in the open, it can seem scary at first, but we become stronger, braver.

The term "write what you know", is a phrase often repeated over and over again by high school English teachers, college writing professors, and authors alike. What does it really mean to write what you know? What does that encompass? I think it means that what you feel--- that what you are, who you are, that what is right in front of you, is enough inspiration and truth to create something beautiful. You don't need to create a fantasy world with fantastical creatures. What we have right here, right now, in this life, is something worth writing about.

I've always been one for realistic fiction and non-fiction. Things that we as human beings can connect with. This is not to say that there isn't plenty of fantasy out there that still helps us connect with the human experience of emotions, love, life and loss. It is simply saying that "write what you know" is the act of identifying and writing about your own personal experience, your own thoughts, and your own world. "Write What You Know" is having enough courage to say the things that you know, without covering them in exaggerated stories and complex metaphors.

Here is what I know:

I know that I am a writer.

I know that writing is my escape and my best friend.

I know that in tough times, I can rely on just a pen and paper to set me free.

I know that I have been through many, many hardships and struggles.

I know that those struggles make me the person I am today.

I know that no matter how many times I feel like I'm falling, I can pick myself back up again.

I know that I am a strong person, a leader, and a mentor.

I know that one classroom full of students instilled a love of teaching in me.

I know my goal was to make writers out of those who don't believe they can.

I know that my student writers were my faith in this world.

I know that they can be anything they want to be.

I know that they will do great things in the world.

I know that even though I am not a teacher anymore, I still yearn to make such a difference in the world.

I know that one of my greatest strengths is helping others.

I know that there is still so much in this life that I have left to learn and understand.

I know that this is my story, and that's what I want to tell the world about.

Writing is a form of intimacy that simply can't compare to anything else in the world. So, we must speak the truth. We must speak the truth and believe that somewhere out there, someone is listening and understanding. Our words become a symbol of freedom in which our voices are heard, and our souls are set free. Our voices sing out from the rooftops and the trees, our voices blow in the wind. We speak to you, reader; we want you to hear of our triumphs and sorrows. We want you to believe that by this simple act, we have awakened your heart and that line by line, word by word, we can make a difference in your life, however big or small. Somewhere beyond these pages is an avid reader, listening. Somewhere beyond these pages, a writer is born.