The entire life's works of William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence.
And every speculative fiction writer who has ever written 1) about space travel 2) from the point of view of an alien 3) a vampire story 4) a tale about a sentient sword 5) time travel 6) zombies 7) ghosts. Indeed, the whole point of speculative fiction is speculating what things would be like if they were very, very different.
People, you're missing the point. Write what you know is: taking your environment, siphening it through your brain, and about it. Sergio's story about dogs in this month's webzine came about because of his love for dogs.
William Faulkner wrote about people he knew in the county he grew up in (see the FACTS below)
William Cuthbert Faulkner (born Falkner, September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer and Nobel Prize laureate from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career. He is primarily known and acclaimed for his novels and short stories, many of which are set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, a setting Faulkner created based on Lafayette County, where he spent most of his life, and Holly Springs/Marshall County.[1] Faulkner wrote what he knew!!!
Anne Rice began writing about vampires because her daughter died and she wanted to envision a world where her daughter could still be alive, although dead. Anne Rice wrote about her pain - she wrote what she knew!!!
The truly great authors write what they know - whether it's the 1940s plains, with mass migrations of people heading towards California and a 'brave new land' - or sci fi writers who are geniuses, and can see the future due to intensive research (Arthur C Clarke). Great authors write about what they know - Shelley wrote Frankenstein because of a nightmare she had - she had lived through the experience in her mind. She wrote what she knew!!! Inspiration can come from anywhere - but it's important for us as writers to remain true to what we know.
The Time Machine, written by HG Wells had the following inspiration: The story reflects Wells's own socialist political views, his view on life and abundance, and the contemporary angst about industrial relations. It is also influenced by Ray Lankester's theories about social degeneration.[3] Other science fiction works of the period, including Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward and the later Metropolis, dealt with similar themes. Wells wrote what he knew!
Since the house is on fire - at least let us warm ourselves.