Few bits of writing wisdom are doled out more avidly than that old chestnut about writing what you know, meaning writing from your own experience. It makes sense, of course. It’s a logical path to crafting fiction that feels true. But it’s also the kind of advice that can have a paralyzing effect on aContinue reading

Amy Rowland, the author of The Transcriptionist, explains how she came to write her debut novel. In August of 2001, after much restless wandering, I found a job transcribing copy for reporters at the New York Times. I would like to look back through my journals and make sense of those days, but in myContinue reading