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Whenever I hear the expression, "Write what you know," I always wish I knew something more exciting. For example, one of my creative writing students used to be a stripper and I've always envied her. How could you write a boring novel about stripping? (You probably could-but it would take some effort.)For better or worse, the things I know are decidedly less salacious: how to be a mother, daughter, wife, teacher-and this last was one of the important experiences I drew on when writing my novel. I've been teaching creative writing for Gotham Writers' Workshop (in Manhattan) for more than six years, which means that I have met more than one thousand people who want to learn to be writers.
Any successes in that bunch?
A few, if what you mean by success is that they went on and got a story published.
A lot, if what you mean by success is that the student had a story inside of her and figured out how to tell it. These stories are what fascinate me as a teacher-because each one is so different. The students themselves tend to fall into certain general categories: there are women whose children have gone off to school and they're struggling to figure out what to do with their lives, and then there are people in their twenties who are worried they'll get sucked into a meaningless job. There are retired people who've always dreamed of writing, and people who are visiting New York from all over the world.
I've never actually categorized my students formally, but, for the sake of argument, I would be willing to bet that there are forty different kinds of creative writing student. But, what amazes me every class, is that within these categories, each person's story is so individual. I have literally never seen a writing exercise done twice in the same way. And, even more intriguing, is that I can never predict who is going to do what. That quiet little lady sitting in the corner might be writing pornography, or she might be writing a quiet little story. You just don't know. And this is the joy of teaching creative writing-it reminds me of how unique we all are, and how special our stories are.
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Susan Breen, 
The Fiction Class, 
mother, 
writing, 
New York, 
story, 
Penguin Books, 
books
write what you know
Susan
I just finished The Fiction Class, and loved it, had to force myself not to finish it in one sitting!
I was so lucky to be in your Advanced Fiction class several times and to get your support and direction in HOW to write what I know. I love to read about human experience that is true and real and written from the heart. I don't want to read soap opery novels, or sci-fi, or thrillers unless it contains that element of truth. So, I was scared that my stripper story - and all the weird, funny, disturbing things that happened along the way, would sound like an episode of the Geraldo Show. I'm still working on it - up to chapter 8 now! And your advice, comments and critique have kept my fictionalized non-fiction grounded and honest.
But, as a reader, I never get tired of reading about the experience of being a mother, a daughter, a teacher, a human as long as it is well-written and TRUE and your book is.
Thank you
All my best,
EL
Write what you know. But what about those that know you.
Hi Susan,
One of your former students--one of the lucky who will soon be published--I greatly value what you once said. (actually several times) That what you write about should be of real and true importance to you. I took this advice to heart and believe it had everything to do with my good fortune. But here's the rub: Like many first time authors, I've got a story coming out that's fiction, albeit autobiographically based. And like The Fiction Class, it's about a mother daughter relationship. So, I can point out that it's not a memoir, just Young Adult ficiton, but that probably won't hide the scent of the familiar from my mom. I wonder how many fiction writers stray from important choices, or entire stories because writing what they know will be read by those that know them well.
Anyway, The Fiction Class is absolutely wonderful. I could not put it down. I can't stop talking about it. It's going to resonate for a very long time. Thank you.
~Lynn Biederman