I always heard 'write what you know' was the golden rule, but the data says otherwise

I was reading a study from the University of Nevada's writing program that looked at 500 published sci-fi and fantasy authors. They found over 60% of them wrote in genres with settings or tech that didn't exist in their real lives or jobs. That really surprised me, because in my experience, every workshop leader pushes the 'write what you know' idea so hard. It made me think the advice might actually limit new writers from trying cool, big ideas. I've personally felt stuck trying to make my own life interesting enough for a story. Has anyone else written something far outside their personal knowledge and had it work out?

3 comments

3 Comments

sethm463d ago

Yeah that "write what you know" advice always felt limiting to me too. It's like the same old advice you get in every creative field, telling you to play it safe. I see it everywhere, not just writing, where people are scared to try something new because they don't have the exact experience. The best stuff comes from imagining what you don't know yet, not just describing your own backyard.

henryp402d ago

Used to think that way too, but @sethm46 is right, you gotta reach for the stuff you don't know yet.

emmaclark3d ago

Totally get what you mean, @sethm46, about the "best stuff comes from imagining." I tried writing only what I knew once and ended up with a thrilling story about forgetting my grocery list and the existential dread of the dairy aisle. Not exactly a bestseller.