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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/29595
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Because I think you're possibly on the wrong track, I'll weigh in four or five areas for you to think about.

(1) Writing your experiences isn't fiction. It may be good practice for writing in general, but it's not fiction. If we were all limited to the some of our experiences - Lord help us.

(2) "Write what you know." If your daddy is a hedge fund manager and you live in The Hamptons don't make your MC a single mother on welfare, living in the Bronx - no matter how much research you do you'll get it horribly wrong.

(3) "What you know and your interests provide the natural framework and focus of your story. It should affect even the most inane areas."

- Even at the breakfast table, Sophie has little interest beyond her phone - Instagram, Whatsapp, and Twitter ruled her life.

- Even at the breakfast table, Sophie has little interest beyond her phone - the mouthwatering aroma banana pancakes and maple syrup could not distract her from the temptations of social media.

It's not case of which is better: the alternatives represent the interests of individual writers. One is into food, the other has more experience of social media.

(4) You seem to believe that people should behave and react in a certain way during events and within scenarios. We are all individuals. Personally, I take issue with anybody questioning my characters' behaviour. Almost in contrast to what you're saying . . . your character's extraordinary behaviour is what got them into the story in the first place.

(5) Once you're confident in writing what you know you can beginning mapping and projecting. If, when you were an only child, your little brother was born, and there was that brief period of jealousy when you thought he was getting all the attention and stealing your mommy, can you apply those same feelings to when you're in college and your bestie gets a boyfriend? Maybe you've never gone out got drunk and woken up in a strange bed, but you've been camping, woken up in the night, and spent a few seconds panicking before you worked out where you are and what was going on.

Original score: 4