In the 90's we barely had internet, much less the constant stream of video from personal cell phones that we have today. Imagine a world lit only by fire, and then take YouTube away.But how would you write it if you never experienced it? So many told me I need the experience. I will do my research but I can't find any teen match tournaments with kung fu, even karate![]()
I've got a long history of violence, but I've never killed anyone. Doesn't stop me from writing about bloody murder. I've never been a man. Doesn't stop me from having male characters. I've never been a POC. Doesn't stop me from having characters of color.
So, what do we do when we've never ridden a dragon? We simulate experiences. I've done many, many experiments to get the feel for what I'm writing about. I've stabbed a t-shirt filled with colored water balloons to death. I've ridden roller coasters. I watch a stunning amount of YouTube and my reference library bends the shelves. We're writers. We do homework for a living. You don't need to have done the actual activity itself - though it doesn't hurt - to write about it. Just do your homework, maybe take some classes if you're able, definitely buy some books, and you'll learn something about your story and about yourself.