The Myth of Writing What You Know

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Most writers are familiar with a few mantras:

Show don’t tell.

Start in the middle.

And of course: Write what you know.

If you’ve ever been in a writing workshop or class, you’ve likely encountered all three as feedback at some point. 

But “write what you know” is the one piece of feedback that seems valuable, but rings hollow because it comes with misdirection.

It’s assuming that a writer just needs to hear that little piece of “wisdom” and all will be well with their writing. You don’t need any other help because you already know the answer, they’re inside of you, right?

If only.

What You Know is Just a Seed of a Story

Unless you’re writing nonfiction or a memoir, you’ll likely not delve too deep into what “you know”. And even if you’re writing about a subject you know a lot about ex. James Patterson and crime, your story begins as a seed. It’s an initial idea that has to be fleshed out. 

Example: You’re writing a novel inspired by your divorce, and while you know what that feels like and can tap into those emotions, it’s not where your story leads. As you discover through your writing, the real story turns out to be that your protagonist thought she wanted a divorce i.e. a new life, but realizes she had what she wanted all along and now has to do whatever she can to get it back.

There’s certainly a power in writing authentically, which is where this piece of advice comes from, but what writers miss is that writing what you know isn’t about plot points. It’s a starting point to uncovering a greater story.

Let Your Imagination Roam Free

Someone told me once that every writer tells the same story over and over. And of course, there are exceptions, but if you look at some of your favorite author’s, you’re sure to find themes. The stories can vary — think Jane Austen — but at the core, the themes and deeper meanings are the same. 

We’re naturally drawn to certain themes or ideas, but the magic of storytelling lies in being able to present those thoughts in a variety of ways. It’s when you experiment with cause and effect that you can expand on an idea that interests you. 

Gillian Flynn has been asked numerous times if her own upbringing and life was as dark as her books, like Gone Girl. And while there are elements of herself in her characters, she’s said that because she has a pretty happy life, it allows her to go to extremely dark places in her writing. 

The Writing Process Will Change Your Mind

A story is really the telling of how someone has changed — it could be big or small, but something occurred in their life that demanded they could not go on living like they always had. 

That’s true for writers too. Very rarely does a writer leave their book the way they began it. Notions are challenged and often, writers confront the idea that the truth they thought they knew doesn’t actually exist. 

It could be a cause and effect issue or a major flaw in character development, but even if a writer is writing what they think they know, something is bound to change it at some point in the process.

Allow yourself this gift, and while you can draw on what you know, also know that it can change — and that’s 100% okay.

It’s what the creative process is all about.