Write What You Know

Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, Canada

As a lifelong fan of Anne of Green Gables, getting to visit Prince Edward Island was something really special. Visiting Green Gables itself, and seeing the landscape that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s words—it brought the books to life in the best possible way.

So when I came across a novel set on PEI, where the main character was planning a literary tour based on Anne, I couldn’t click “buy” fast enough. I was excited to revisit the island through fiction and see how another writer captured that same magic.

But early on, the main character arrives at the airport... and takes an escalator down to baggage claim.

That might not seem like a big deal, but if you’ve been there, you know: PEI’s airport is small. One level. No escalator. Just… small. And in that moment, I knew the author hadn’t been there. That little inaccuracy made me question everything else—and sure enough, there were more details that didn’t quite ring true.

It really drove home something I’ve come to believe as both a writer and a reader: when it comes to setting, writing what you know—or at the very least, what you’ve thoroughly researched—matters.

You don’t have to write only about places you’ve physically been, but if you’re setting a story somewhere real, especially somewhere readers feel strongly about, it’s worth the time to get the details right. A misstep can pull the reader out of the story. But when a setting is done well? It can transport us, ground us, and make the whole story feel more vivid.

Setting isn’t just background—it shapes mood, tone, and character. And for readers who know and love a place, those details make all the difference.