I took classes with this professor for four years and was still in his presence for another four years after that, so, the influence he had upon me and upon my understanding of writing was not small. He deeply impressed me. Even today I grapple with his declaration: Write only what you know! Part of me believes this, simply because I heard it so much, because it was stamped in my mind by repetition. And yet the world and life are so large – often I am drawn to write about things that extend beyond my personal experience. Trying to refrain from doing this is like being in a straightjacket. I struggle to get out of it. But I’ve been told that this straightjacket is for my own good, because if I try to write anything beyond what I know, it will never sound believable to the reader.

You are an obvious example that this is not true. You write of the desert, never having lived there yourself, basing your description of desert life only upon what you have encountered in literature. I read a lot, but most often non-fiction. Frequently I read about the cultures and histories, the religions and mythologies of other times and other peoples. My mind travels a lot. But I am always hesitant to incorporate any of this knowledge into my writing, because it doesn’t come from personal experience: it is not “what I know.” But now, having read your statement, I am a bit less hesitant.

Thank you, Paulo. You are a great teacher!

Savita