Write What You Know (And What It Really Means)
By: Mary Fletcher
Tags: Writing Advice, Novel Writing, Writing, Writer, Short Story Writing

Courtesy of Kapoompics (pexels.com)

‘Write what you know’ is old advice but one that comes with its fair share of debate. Some people say that it’s simply good sense. If you’re a single mother (or father), you’re going to be able to write authentically about your experiences in a way that many others can’t.

Others argue that by only writing about what you know, you’re restricting yourself and won’t have as many areas that you can explore. They say that we wouldn’t have any fantasy stories and that the fiction that we do have would be a lot less exciting as most people tend to lead rather dull lives.

Here’s the thing: both groups are right. You should include your life experiences, yes, though what many don’t appreciate is that we know a lot more than we realise.

The idea of ‘writing what you know’ can be broken down into two categories: the practical and the personal.

First: the practical. Take a minute to think about what you know.

Do you know what it’s like to be made bankrupt?

Do you know what it’s like to save a person’s life?

If we look at the first group’s point of argument, it is these areas which you should write about and why shouldn’t you? After all, it is these kinds of experiences that you can portray truthfully to provide a thrilling and engaging story. You know what it means to go through these challenges and to come out the other side in a way no-one else can.

In this category, writing what you know doesn’t have to be restricted to life-changing experiences, either. If you know what it’s like to drag yourself out of bed every morning to go to work, you have life experience. If you know what it’s like to trip over the dog’s favourite toy or deal with an annoying sibling, you have a range of life experiences that you can introduce into your character’s lives.

In a way, the idea of using practical experience does have the additional benefit of encouraging writers to go out and experience things. It’s easy as a writer to be cooped up all day writing about other’s lives that you forget to go out and live your own. In this regard, it can give you a needed push to go out do things so you can write about it in a way that feels genuine and truthful- essentially: ‘write what you know’.

However, writing what you know isn’t just down to physical experiences. It isn’t doesn’t just refer to experiences that you can taste or touch. The job of any writer- any artist, in fact, is to trigger a reaction within their audience and to do that, we also need to invoke emotion- we need to make a personal connection.

There are things in life that we all know- either through personal experience, the experience of others, or through the media and the world around us. There are emotions, worries and fears that we can all recognise and that, as a society, we empathise with.

We all know what it’s like to be disappointed. We all know what it’s like to be happy or afraid. We all know what it’s like to laugh until we feel like our sides are going to burst or have someone offer comfort- whether a complete stranger or a friend.

There are things we all know through personal growth, and it is important to recognise the need to represent these moments as well.

Write about your experiences, yes, but also recognise that you as a creator know more than you realise and express it in your project.

You don’t need to have climbed fifteen mountains to write about it, but you can use your experience of elation, frustration and dedication to write about your character’s journey.

If you’re a boat captain write about it but include the emotional impact of what it’s like so readers can experience it too.

Here are some more suggestions on areas you can explore to ‘write what you know’:

Embarrassing yourself in front of someone you’re attracted to

Picking yourself up and starting again

Feeling sick from being so nervous

Feeling incompetent/ child-like in a sea full of put-together adults

Being stuck in a conversation you desperately want to escape

Seeing a new-born child for the first time

Using your savings to buy something you’ve been after for a long time

Standing up for yourself/ others

Worrying over test results (car, medical, exams)

Mutual attraction/ flirting

Family events that inevitably end in arguments

Desperately needing the toilet

Being lost/ arriving at your destination after being lost

Sharing a secret/ hearing a silly rumour about yourself

Losing a loved one (pet, relative, friend)

No matter which angle you approach this advice from- whether practical or personal- our job as writers is to help our readers feel as though they are living through our characters. In the end, it doesn’t matter how we’re applying our experience, only that we are creating one for the reader to enjoy.

What are your thoughts on ‘writing what you know’? Share your thoughts.