Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: June 23, 2024

Issue 113

Hello, Writers and Poets!

Have you heard of the old writing adage “write what you know?” It’s been a foundational piece of advice that can be traced back to several well-known writers, including Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway. “Write what you know” is rooted in the belief that authenticity and emotional truth primarily stem from our personal experiences. While there is definite value to this advice (and most of us have probably followed it in many of our poems, stories, and essays), this approach has the potential to stifle our creativity.

For example, maybe you are a poet who has achieved a certain amount of success writing about motherhood and the natural world. You are confident in your knowledge of both areas (you have raised two children, and you are an environmental scientist specializing in restoring lake habitats). But, you are feeling somewhat trapped in your writing world, and secretly, you would love to compose a collection of persona poems about being a female stunt double …