Every writer hears the advice “write what you know” at some point or another because it’s useful advice. Writing what you know inserts authenticity into your work, to say nothing of confidence. It’s particularly valuable advice if you’re writing in a genre where people may be intrigued by what you know – a doctor writing medical thrillers, a forensics expert writing mysteries, a biologist writing sci-fi and so on.

Writing what you know can come with its own limitations, though. If you’re restricting your subject matter to your own experience or even just your own point of view, you’re shutting out most of the world from your work. Even worse, you’re closing down an endless universe of imagination.

Write what you know, sure. But above all, write wonder.

Write about the things that cause wonder in you. This will keep you interested in your work, which matters more than most writing advice acknowledges. Your exploration of ideas will make it more compelling to readers if it hooks your own imagination. You have to be curious about your own writing and enjoy its journey. If you’re not feeling wonder at the tale, then how can the reader?

You must also write to cause wonder in others. Write about those universal subjects that capture all our imaginations, the things that transform us and send each of us off on our own journeys. Make the reader think, make them experience. They don’t all have to experience the same things and perhaps it’s best they don’t. But make them feel something.

Remember that a book is not just a stand-alone object. It is part of a broader conversation of ideas, characters, worlds and experiences. When a reader finishes your book and something in it stays with them, that’s the book joining the ongoing conversation of all that’s ever been written. You’re not just making a product here. You’re adding your voice to something much larger than yourself.

Write what you know but don’t stop there.

Write into the unknown. Write the question you don’t know the answer to. Write the world you haven’t visited yet.

Write wonder.

Related

• The Write Life: You need a second brain
• The Write Life: Make your desk a happy space
• The Write Life: You can’t do it alone
• The Write Life: Support your community
• The Write Life: Plotting or pantsing?
• The Write Life: How’s your focus?