Writing Parallels

We’re chatting today about the parallels between our writing and our real lives. 

They say write what you know and you’ll be fine. There’s a lot of truth to that. When we write what we know, we speak from experience and the feeling that needs to be associated with our stories comes through. Not so much when we write about a subject that is foreign to us. We don’t have the emotion to convey how we felt during that time or situation. That said, how does my writing parallel my life?

You know Gene and I are bikers. We’ve been bikers for all of our adult lives, though for me I didn’t start driving my own until 20 years ago.  That’s when I felt a sense of freedom and independence I’d never known.  The same is true writing a story that’s been rolling around in my head for a long time. Getting it down on paper, honing and perfecting the story, is a sense of freedom in many ways. It quiets my mind and allows it to rest, finally giving those characters a voice.

I’ve also found that going on vacation to a place I’ve never been brings back that sense of wonder and excitement that I can easily bring to my characters too. Basically, experiencing life makes my characters more well-rounded. 

Let’s go see what my fellow bloggers think of this subject.  Have you noticed that your life parallels your creative endeavors?