Advice Quote by Michael Scott
“Some writing courses will advise you to write what you know. I've always thought this is very odd advice ... because it means, for example, that I should not be writing about Nicholas Flamel, because I didn't live in France in the 15th Century, I was not an alchemyst, am not immortal (despite the rumours) and do not know magic.”
About This Quote
The advice to write only from personal experience limits imagination; the author argues that creativity can draw on imagined or historical subjects beyond one's lived reality.
In simple terms: Creative freedom over personal experience
Key Takeaway
Imagination transcends lived experience
Themes
creativity
imagination
writing advice
historical fiction
self-expression
Mood
playful
defiant
thoughtful
Type
advice
critique
observation
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- novel planning
- fantasy worldbuilding
- historical novels
- personal essays
Key Concepts
authorial voice
genre flexibility
knowledge vs. imagination
Practical Applications
- Encouraging writers to explore speculative topics
- Broadening curriculum for creative writing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does limiting topics to personal experience affect originality?
- What strategies can writers use to authentically portray unfamiliar settings?
