Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Writing What You Know by Kimberly Duffy *Giveaway*

Erica here. It is my delight to welcome author Kimberly Duffy to Seekerville today. Kimberly graciously agreed to guest post for us on one of her busiest days--Release Day! She will pop in as she can, and I hope you'll throw lots of encouragement and congrats her way on this big occasion! 



Writing what you Know


There are some bits of writing advice that have been repeated so often, and for so long, they’ve become trite. Expected. Eye rolls and indignant huffs and all that. “Write what you know” falls squarely in that category.

I’m a forty-one-year-old homeschooling mother of four. My days consist of multiplication drills, read alouds, and running my kids all over God’s green Earth.

No one wants to read that story.

If we all wrote what we knew then there’d be a heck of a lot of boring autobiographies masquerading as novels cluttering bookstore shelves.

Except…

this is fantastic advice that’s been misinterpreted.

Write what you know isn’t about plot. It’s about emotion.

I don’t know what it’s like to be a 19th century women wanting to work in a male-dominated field, but I do know what it’s like to be discounted because of my sex. I know what it’s like to be told I’m too masculine and forceful and driven and not soft enough.

I may not fully understand what it’s like to process extreme grief and how that weighs on a personal faith, but I identify with the doubt and questioning and fear that comes along with being unmoored.

I have no idea—no idea at all—what it means to be a suffragette, an Ancient Roman Christian, a woman who has been cheated on, or a person with magical powers.

But I certainly know what it’s like to feel desperate, fearful, betrayed, and unworthy.

That’s why we read fiction, right? That’s why we continue with a story that has nothing to do with our every day other than the emotions threaded through it. Novels take us out of our own lives, yes, but they also anchor and validate and encourage us in our experiences.

I’m often asked if I put myself in my stories. And the answer to that is a resounding “yes!” In every book, there are pieces of me scattered throughout the chapters. Here a little bit of my personality, there my questions, this thing I learned during my darkest moment, that bit of feeling I’d stored away.

There are a few things I do so that my stories are authentic and my characters relatable.


1. Don’t be afraid to let your characters be ugly. I’ve yet to meet a perfect person (and those who come close are more annoying than inspirational!) I don’t set out to write likeable characters; I set out to write characters with real flaws that readers can see themselves in. Now, I like my characters, but I know others won’t. And that’s okay. It’s real life. 



2. Draw from your experience. Those things we hold most tightly are the things that are very likely to give life to our books. They’re the things others desperately need to know they aren’t alone in. I experienced a trauma about twenty years ago that I gave to a character. Was it hard to write? Absolutely. It’s something I rarely talk about. But in giving my words to her, I was able to redeem the loneliness and isolation of those moments. And because it comes from a very personal place, I hope others who have experienced something like it will feel seen and heard.



3. Consider method-writing. Have you heard of method-acting? Method-writing is similar in that you put yourself in your characters’ shoes. If they’re lost in the woods during a snowstorm and it’s August where you live, try opening the freezer and holding a frozen roast for a few minutes. If you’re getting ready to write a kissing scene, practice on your spouse. That all might sound silly, but even a superficial understanding of what your character is experiencing goes a long way in creating believability.



Writing this way demands an author’s transparency and vulnerability, but it’s made worth it by stories that resonate with people, regardless of those things you, or your characters, do or don’t have in common with your reader. In a world fractured by differences, it’s good to remember those things that knit us together.

Erica here again. As I mentioned above, today is Release Day for Kimberly's second novel, A Tapestry of Light! Isn't this cover STUNNING? 


Here's a bit about the book: 
Calcutta, 1886.

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

This is book 2 in Kimberly's debut series. Book one is:


It's 1885, and all Nora Shipley wants, now that she's graduating from Cornell University as valedictorian of the entomology program, is to follow in her late father's footsteps by getting her master's degree and taking over the scientific journal he started. The only way to uphold her father's legacy is to win a scholarship, so she joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field.

India isn't what she expects, though, and neither is the rival classmate who accompanies her, Owen Epps. As her preconceptions of India--and of Owen--fall away, she finds both far more captivating than she expected. Forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.

In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices--between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she's always thought she wanted and the man she's come to love.




Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio. When she's not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes readers back in time and across oceans. Her books feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, evocative settings, and real-life faith. Kimberly loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of 20 years. He doesn't mind.

You can find Kimberly at:

www.kimberlyduffy.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyDuffy/


Kimberly is giving away a copy of her new release, A Tapestry of Light to one person who comments today. In keeping with the topic of Writing What You Know...If you are a writer, what are some of the ways you have incorporated your own experience into your writing? If you're a reader, what are some topics you love to read about?  Answer below to be entered to win!

58 comments:

  1. Hi Kimberly, and happy release day!

    First of all, what an intriguing premise for your series! I can't wait to read it!

    Thank you for this great post. The "write what you know" advice is intimidating to some writers, but you've brought us past the "what do people want to know about my mundane life?" to the meat of what we know.

    Have fun with your homeschooling. My four children are now adults, and I miss those homeschooling years with a passion! :-)

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    1. The homeschooling days pass slowly sometimes but the years fly and I appreciate I'm able to do it. And thanks so much. Whenever I go through something, I always think, how can I use this to help someone

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  2. yay Kimberly! Happy Release Day :) I love this line from your post - "Write what you know isn’t about plot. It’s about emotion." That's a great concept!

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  3. Happy Release Day, Kimberly! I'm reading A Tapestry of Light right now! And WOW! I feel like I'm learning on every page, because I know almost nothing about British Colonialism in India. High time I broadened my education, and what a lovely way to do it!

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  4. I write journals almost daily. It's not professional but I found a few things my mom had written when we were going through her things after she passed away and I was sad to think we didn't have more. My writing may not be much but I hope I am leaving a little more for my children so they will always have a piece of me.

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    1. I love that you're leaving bits of your heart and soul for your children. I think that's beautiful.

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  5. Welcome, Kimberly! A great post about writing what you know! I always say my life is so boring that I don't even have things to talk about on social media. LOL So this is a great post to encourage using what I do know (emotion-wise) in stories.

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  6. My life is pretty boring, too, but I'm glad. I don't want an interesting life bc that means upheaval 😂

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    1. So true, Kim. That really is a beautiful book cover! Bethany House does such great work!!!

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    2. they do! I've loved each of my covers.

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  7. Kimberly, so nice to have you here. I agree with Missy... I do that often so we stay friends!!!! :)

    Writing what you know is a great launch point and adds the depth that good storytelling needs. Well done!

    Now I need a passport!

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    1. My passport is collecting dust in my dresser. I can't wait until we can travel again. My family has a BIG trip planned.

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  8. Happy Release Day! Your book looks amazing! Such a lovely cover, and the back cover is so intriguing. Congratulations!

    I think things that I've incorporated into my books are the theme of finding significance in God and not in myself...not dwelling on my gifts or lack of, my success or lack of. It's all about who I am in HIM. :)

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    1. Thank you, Sherrinda! And that's such an important truth--who we are in Christ. That's actually a major theme in my third book, Every Word Unsaid.

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  9. Happy Release day!!!! Love this post! Such great advice and as a reader I appreciate it!!! I love reading the "ugly" characters. Ones that make mistakes, have emotions, and flaws that we all have. I love watching them grow and heal. Real faith and real passion (not just romance passion) is what I want as a reader. Rachel Dixon bookwormracheldATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Thanks so much! I love the authentic, vulnerable, broken characters best of all.

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  10. Happy Release Day Love this post! I am a reader who loves to read books like this Thank you for the chance to win your book You are a New Author to me Blessings!

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  11. Hi Kimberly:

    I just have to know: Are your books "Gilded Age" or in France, "La Belle Époque" novels? This is a period in which I'd love to see more romances set.

    It may seem the same but I much prefer this advice:

    "Don't write what you don't know".

    This opens the door to writing about anything which you can learn and come to know.

    I think the logic here is why the Ten Commandments have so many "Thou Shall Nots". It actually works better.

    Good luck with your new release!

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    1. They are set during the Gilded Age--the late 19th century--though this one, because it's set in India and England, is considered Colonial India/Victorian.

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    2. Kim: Would that then make it part of the Raj?

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  12. High-five from one homeschooling mama (albeit retired now) to another! Congrats on your new book baby :)

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    1. Thanks, Michelle! I had no idea you'd homeschooled. Some days I just know I'm never going to make it and others I feel like Superwoman. lol

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  13. I always feel like, though I wrote for so long in many different genres, the cowboys finally hit at least partly because that's my life. So maybe I brought an authenticity to those characters, to men who work outside, work with animals, battle the elements.

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    1. Mary--you write cowboys so well! I couldn't. I don't know anything about them. I think that's why I can write India well. I lived there. It would be hard to write if I'd had no experience with that.

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    2. Watch a couple of John Wayne movies, read a couple of Louis L'Amour books and you're all set.

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  14. I heard a real story once of a church funeral dinner that had some food spoil and like...100 people at that funeral dinner got food poisoning.
    So the next week at church I was sitting with the lady in charge of funeral dinners and I told her the story and said, "Margaret, I thought of you."
    She said, (after the laughter died), "Do you put people you know in your books?"
    My answer was, "Sometimes I get bits and pieces from people but as a rule, no one is quite crazy enough, or their life crazy enough, to go in a book. And be thankful for that. Be thankful for a boring life."

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  15. I never shoot anyone though. Zero shootings. And that's a feature of my books. Hmmmm... Nope, not gonna change that for the sake of write what you know. Nope.

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    1. I hadn't noticed you never shoot people, but now that I think about it...That's interesting. And have you shot somebody??? My husband convinced me to get a conceal carry and at the class, I was the best shot. I'd no idea I had such good aim!

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    2. My main objections to shooting is the noise. I need ear plugs.

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  16. Happy release day! Sounds like an interesting book and I love the cover!

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  17. Kimberly, thanks for being with us today. Your cover is lovely, and your story sounds delightful. I enjoyed your post. So true...we can pull from our own experiences even if they're not exactly what our characters have to endure. Writing authentic emotion is probably the key!

    Wishing you continued success!

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  18. Happy Release Day! I really love this post since I've heard from many to write what I know...

    Btw, as a homeschool grad I love that you're an author too!

    -Abigail

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    1. My oldest (homeschooled from kindergarten) writers, too! I love the flexibility homeschooling offers us. And thank you.

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  19. Sounds like a very interesting book. I enjoy reading historical fiction and learning along the way!

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  20. I don't have a specific topic that I enjoy reading about... I enjoy historical fiction mainly WWII and before... thank you, writers for all of your research that goes into them! Thanks for having this giveaway!!

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  21. Happy release day, Kimberly! I loved A Mosaic of Wings, and I've heard so many great things about A Tapestry of Light! Historical fiction is my favorite genre. It's such a treat to learn about different locations and slices of history while I'm enjoying a great story.

    Thanks for the wonderful post! I so enjoy reading each Seekerville post, even though I'm not a writer. It's fascinating to see what goes into the writing of the books I love to read. There are such fantastic writers here on Seekerville!

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book!
    Winnie T.

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    1. Thanks! I love historical fiction. It's about 90% of what I read

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  22. Happy Release Day! This book sounds great, I would love to win a copy. This was great advice, some that I know I will use.

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  23. Loved this post, Kimberly. I couldn’t agree more. As a writer, every book has bits and pieces of my own heart and soul in it. No matter the era or historical period, emotions transcend time. Your story sounds amazing! Congrats on a new release.

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  24. I am definitely a reader. I love well-told stories -- and I like to learn something in the process of reading the story. From the description of both of your books (and Erica's endorsement), I can tell that both will be must-reads. When I was young I thought I didn't like history. Turns out I didn't care for boring recitation of facts. When I discovered historical fiction (specifically, well-researched and written with integrity historical fiction) I wanted to know more about each era. All I really needed in those school years was story connection to the time periods.
    Your characters and settings sound intriguing. Congratulations on your second book!

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  25. Thank you! I've always loved history, but that's because I taught myself it through classic literature, autobiographies, and well written historical narratives. History shouldn't be taught through a textbook!

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    1. I so agree.
      Scripture is also more interesting and life-gripping if approached in somewhat similar way -- as a good story with intriguing characters with real emotion and reactions. When we engage our novel-loving imaginations with scripture text we begin to see and hear and feel more. And we can gain a better understanding of ourselves within God's story.
      I can't wait to begin learning about colonial India through your books.

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  26. Thanks so much for visiting with us on release day.
    Your comments on method acting intrigued me. I was just listening to a group of authors discuss this earlier in the week. They had vastly different reactions. Some (often those with theater backgrounds) embraced it, but some said that in order to write the really dark and difficult scenes, they had to distance themselves from the pain. I love hearing about the different processes authors use.

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    1. I think different things work for different people. I can't distance myself from the pain while I'm writing because I pour so much of my own into it. And sometimes, I'm positive I'm feeling what my characters are. In fact, I was writing a scene for my third book and my heart began to pound and twist along with my character. It kind of freaked me out!

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  27. I enjoy reading historical fiction. I like to hear about the culture and customs of the past and what the daily lives were like for those people and the struggles they went through. Vivian Furbay jtandviv (at) q (dot) com

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  28. I love to read about any topic but characters are King. I like what you say about allowing them to be ugly. This makes them human. I love flawed characters that you can relate to. It's important for authors to develop characters and show their thought processes and their pain when applicable. If I don't care about the character or at least understand their motivations, I can't invest in a novel. Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara are two flawed characters that you might never fully like, but you can understand how their experiences shape them and why they behave the way they do. (At least in the novel - not so much in the film)

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  29. I agree completely. I don't identify with perfect characters because I'm so very flawed. Watching characters grow and mature and learn is a hopeful process

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  30. Gorgeous covers and the story sounds amazing, too.
    I agree with you about using your characters to work through issues. In my book Faith & Hope, Faith deals with infertility, and I wrote it while deep in the middle of my own struggle. Hers isn't quite the same as mine was, but I could still give her the right emotions and words because I was living them. And in my book coming out in December, I have a preacher's daughter who leaves the faith because of everything she went through growing up. It's no my story, but it's the story that could have been mine if I had made different choices. I put a lot of my hurt and struggles into that one, too. And I hope it comes out stronger because of it.

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