Apex Book Company

Write what you know.

It is one of the most repeated and most loathed pieces of writing advice. It is also one of the most misunderstood.

When someone says, “Write what you know,” it might sound like you’re being advised to write only about what you’ve experienced personally, but that’s difficult outside of memoirs. How can you “write what you know” if you’re writing about distant planets, space aliens, futuristic technology, or what it’s like to murder someone?

There are several takes on this. In general, the advice is not meant to be taken literally. In other words, it isn’t important to have personally been in a situation to “know” it. Being able to relate what you’re writing about to an experience you have had is what’s important. For example, not everyone has been angry enough to kill someone, but everyone has been angry, perhaps even enraged. Remembering that feeling can provide a scene of anger or violence with a sense of reality that few writing tricks can match. In this way, writers put themselves and their experiences into their writing, even if they have never experienced a particular event directly.

“Write what you know” can also mean “Write what you’re passionate about.” If you are not interested in the subject matter you’re writing about, it will show.

Another important part of “knowing” a situation is having a good handle on details. Pertinent details can add a sense of reality to what you’re writing. A subject you’re passionate about is often a subject you already know about, or are interested in learning about. Being willing to do the work in order to get the details right demonstrates a passion for the subject matter, and it shows in what you write.

“Writing what you know” can also help to establish your credibility and the credibility of the market that publishes your work. Editors don’t always have time to fact check the stories they receive. There is often an implicit assumption that authors know what they’re talking about (especially if they can convince their audience of this). If you aren’t sure of details, don’t skimp on the research. Wikipedia can be your friend, but only as a starting place. Make sure to confirm the information in several places (which aren’t quoting from Wikipedia–books are your friends!) before depending on it.

Would you like to know more?

Starship Troopers is one of my favorite bad movies. I especially love the little news asides that fill in back story and move the plot along. Every once in a while, the announcer asks, “Would you like to know more?” Well, if the advice is to write what you know, and you want to write about an area where you have no knowledge–martial arts, salsa dancing, marine biology, Norse mythology, car repair, mechanical engineering–why not learn something about it?

The Internet is just a click away (or available at work or a local library), and borrowing books from the library is free. You don’t need a degree in a subject in order to write about it (unless you’re planning on writing a scholarly work–but we’re talking about fiction, here). Taking a class through community education can be a cost-saving alternative to taking a course at a local college or university.

Also, the Internet is bringing more and more college lectures and even full courses to the masses for free. Check out iTunes U on iTunes for free college lectures available for downloads, as well as free online courses and lectures from Great Universities.

Once you have some background in a particular subject, you know the types of questions to ask to find out more, and the types of avenues you can pursue in order to discover the answers to your questions. If all of your research fails, ask an expert. No, really. People who have spent their lives pursuing a particular subject are often flattered when someone asks their advice and glad to help out. It’s possible that they may not have time, but don’t feel shut down if one particular source doesn’t answer your questions. Ask around. There may be someone else who wants to talk to you. In many historical, tech-heavy, or science-heavy novels, there are often college or university professors and researchers thanked in the afterward or acknowledgments. Not everyone can be an expert in every subject. Fortunately, there are experts in every subject area, and many of them are happy to help.

If you need to go about researching a subject on your own, however, you might want to check out the blog of Lisa Gold, who is a professional researcher, writer, and editor. She has researched material for authors (including Neal Stephenson, Justine Larbalestier, Linda Stone, and Richard Bitner) and publishing houses (including HarperCollins and Hill House). Her blog contains a wealth of information on research resources, as well as her own methodology for tackling a subject. Check it out. Knowing how to research effectively can save you time when it comes to do the work in order to support your writing projects.

“Write what you know” is not a curse, or a death sentence for your creativity. Think of it instead as a Zen koan to look into more deeply until you understand it fully. And then you can explain to me the sound of one hand clapping.

Sarah Brandel is a Submissions Editor, Copy Editor, and Blog Fiend at Apex.