“Write What You Know” Can be Misunderstood

Every first-time novelist hears the old song: “Write what you know.” This can be misunderstood.

The fact is, we don’t write what we know, but rather, we write the nature of our experience.

A plumber doesn’t have to write about toilets. He can become a first-time novelist writing about nine-foot green goblins on another planet — because those goblins are still a reflection of ourselves.

If you’re a first-time novelist, don’t worry about writing what you know. Allow your imagination to soar, and your perception of the world will naturally be filtered through your experience.

There’s enough to concern yourself with as a first-time novelist. Keep it simple. “Write what you know” really just means that you can trust yourself.

Please share your thoughts with me about this.

Classes are filling up!
Don’t forget to register for upcoming spring/summer telecourses now.
The 90-Day Novel

The 90-Day Screenplay