Common advice woven throughout how to literature on writing encourages writers to write what they know. This raises the question: When writing fiction how does this apply? How can writers "know" realms, lands and characters that exist only in the imagination?

Who we are and what we know reflects in what we write. Our background leaves behind a creative fingerprint in style and voice that mirrors fragments of what we know from life's experience. For example, Teel James Glenn, author of Tales of a Warrior Priest (a fantasy novel) and Knight Errant (mystery novel) portrays interesting, unique characters in both genres. A common element in both story lines: well-written fight scenes. His characters, although set in different genres, move with fluidity and clarity making the scenes real and easy to follow.

When asked about how writing what you know applies to writing fiction, Glenn says, "It is the reason I wrote the Knight Errant mystery novel. I know horses, Ren Faires, film making, performing, fighting in various forms, and so those elements find their way into my work frequently. In fact, most of what I write, I do because the subject is ever-present in my life. I have zero problems imagining a circumstance because in some way I have lived it."

Glenn's experience teaching martial arts, bodyguard technique and stage combat (European and Japanese) for twenty five years skims the surface of knowledge on this topic. This one area of interest branches out to touch others. He studied with Errol Flynn's last stunt double as well as the head of the Seoul Military Academy among other great gentlemen. He's been a bouncer, bodyguard and stuntman, went to college as a book illustrator and worked as an actor the whole time. He's been in real knife fights, had people attempt to pull guns on him, jousted at a couple of Ren Faires and been set on fire for a number of films. Learning these facts about the author, it's easy to see why well-written fights scenes find their way in his books. He's writing what he knows.

Write – Make it a Habit

What's the difference between people who want to write fiction and those who do? The first step—you guessed it—write! Develop the habit of writing. It's a creative endeavor, and not something one necessarily feels like doing everyday. When your day job zaps your energy level and household chores clamor for attention, somewhere in the minutes that remain, writers squeeze creative time into their schedule. 

Some days five written pages might only produce one paragraph worth keeping. Other days, all five pages send the muse skyrocketing to writing heaven when they perch upon the creative edge located in the productive zone. Words, images and concepts flood the creative process. If only doors could be locked and time frozen just long enough to write, and write.... 

Has a great idea for a book rollicked through your mind for months or even years? Don't let it go to waste. Make a plan. Set a realistic goal to write every week. Writing three or four days each week lays a foundation to form the habit. Once this habit is established, it grows to consume more time. Remember to be flexible. If you strictly expect to write a certain amount of words, during the same amount of time each day, discouragement will set in when expectations cannot be met.