Journal #1: "Write what you know"

What do I really know? A question that truly stumps me. What kind of knowledge do I have that I can adapt into my writing? The truth is, I don't really know my limits when it comes to writing. I have a thorough understanding of myself, my experiences as well as the experiences of others, and life in general. But to sit down and think about how to answer such a simple question is surprisingly a big challenge. When I write, I usually draw from emotions and feelings that I have felt, or that interest me. The stories that I write (or want to write) usually have plot lines that are incredibly unthinkable in real life, but I personally believe that if my character is a real and believable character, then you can ultimately take the story anywhere. I already realize that I have a heightened understanding of the human psyche, which benefits writing as you can reach out to many different people from different walks of life, and surely create a unity.

As for genres, I am extremely interested in psychological thrillers/tragedies/horror fiction. I love a dark storyline that is guided by a relatable character. I am very inspired by Stephen King's work, as cliche as it may sound. He is the only author I fully trust when it comes to reading. I have taken a lot from reading his novels, on technique and character development. I am most interested in portraying internal conflicts, and exploring the affects of trauma and memory through my characters. I am also fascinated by demonology, and mythology, although those are the types of genres that can be interpreted in many different ways, therefore it may create a hit or miss for some readers. I have always been interested in controversial topics, and I feel that writing is a fantastic way to provoke thought in others, which is probably my second goal, next to reaching out to people.

I have so many story ideas that crowd my mind, sometimes my imagination overwhelms me. I am only interested in writing fiction on my spare time. The only thing that I am certain I don't know is geography. Where are the settings of my stories anyways? To be honest, I usually create a fictitious town, or city so that I don't have to do any research for the setting. That way, I can use creativity to my full ability. I am willing to do research on occupations for specific characters, and themes. I don't believe that there is anything that should be avoided in writing. As there is always room for improvement, there is also always room for enlightenment.