How To Outgrow 'Write What You Know'

writer has heard it time and again, and it’s notand don’t worry if you’re not yet an
without merit: “Write what you know.”“expert” in any of these areas! Among
When I began freelancing, I was just out of college, somy favorite writing assignments have been topics in
what did I write about? College. I wrote profiles ofwhich I had no previous expertise:
collegiate entrepreneurs, I wrote editorials about college-An article about a woman who started her own
life... and after a while, I really wanted to move on andgreeting card business for Woman’s Own. Of
write about other things. But I didn’t feelcourse, I’ve never started my own greeting
qualified.card business—but the topic certainly interested
Luckily, I didn’t let that hold me back for toome, and I wanted a good excuse to learn more about
long.it.
“Write what you know” is a very good-An article about how “media overload”
starting point. But that’s all it is. It’s aaffects children’s development for I’m
place for you to go to get your feet wet, and a placenot even a parent, let alone an expert in child
to come back to when the tide gets too high. Butpsychology. But I’ve always wondered how
it’s not a place to stay for very long.increasing media immersion (TV, Internet, video games,
A better piece of advice, in my opinion, isradio, etc.) has affected people in MY generation.
“Write what you WANT to know.” One-An article about book packagers for Writer’s
of the great perks of being a freelance writer is thatDigest. Okay, I had written for a book packager at that
you get paid to learn about things. So… what dopoint-- but just one, and I was eager to learn more
you want to learn about?about the industry and its players. It gave me the
If I had completely disregarded “Write whatperfect excuse to contact book packagers and learn
you know” and simply opened a page of themore about the market. And If not for this article, I
Writers Market at random, figuring I’d send awould never have written Celine Dion's book... I sent
query to whichever market my finger happened tomy resume and samples to one of the packagers I
touch, my career would be very different today. I mightinterviewed, and an editor there wound up calling me
have ended up writing about finances, miniature horses,years later with the assignment!
and aerobics. And you know what? I would have-Several articles about interesting inventions for How
hated it.much fun did I have learning about how Velcro, aspirin,
I have no experience with any of the above topics,and Post-It Notes were invented? This made for great
and there’s a good reason for that: I neverdinner table conversation for weeks. My father always
really WANTED to have experience with them. Since Ifancied himself a bit of a mad inventor, and I guess the
have no real passion for any of the topics, if I had togene spilled over to me. I devour these quirky stories
write articles about them, it would feel like work.of how the human mind approaches problem-solving
But did you ever stop to think about the things youcreatively.
always wanted to know, but never found out? Or all-Every disabilities-related article I’ve ever
the interesting people you wanted to meet? Or thewritten. Was I an expert in this area when I began? No.
problems you’ve encountered that you wantedI have a brother who has Down syndrome, so I had
solved? Now those are article topics.the benefit of some extra understanding, but I only
Try this exercise. Fill in the blanks with your answers.became an “expert” by writing about
1. If time and money weren’t factors, I’dthis topic over and over. Each time, I learned something
love to take a course in ___________________.new that I really wanted to learn-- new legislation for
2. I’ve always wanted to ask (person youpeople with disabilities, profiles of amazing people with
know)______________________ aboutdisabilities, issues of discrimination, etc.
_________________________.When working to broaden your writing horizons, be
3. I’ve always wanted to know howsure to think about two things: your passions, and your
__________________________ works.curiosities. You don’t need to write only about
4. My life would improve if I could onlytopics that mean “everything” to you;
______________________________.you can-- and should-- also write about the little things
5. When I have a sleepless night, it’s usuallythat bounce around your brain. Have you always
because I’m worried aboutwondered how the custom of kissing under the
____________________.mistletoe evolved? Or how Mexican jumping beans
6. The worst injustice I can think of isjump?
______________________________.Have you wondered what it feels like to go back to
7. When I was a kid, I was really passionate aboutschool in your 40s or 50s? Have you wondered if
_________________________.there’s a way to stop all that junk mail and
8. I have always been embarrassed to admit thatthose telemarketing calls from darkening your
________________________really interestsdoorstep?
me.Do some preliminary research, formulate a query letter,
9. In my life, I have overcomeand... ta da! You get paid to find answers to these
_______.pressing questions, or learn more about your hobbies
10. If I could volunteer for just one cause, it would beand passions.
__________________________.Consider it a challenge. Keep learning. Use your writing
11. I wish I were better atas a vehicle to answer every question you never had
time to answer before. There are lots of people out
12. I have always wondered whythere who have wondered about those very same
_____.things, and you can help them!
You may have lots of answers for each statement.You don’t need to be an expert. You need to
That’s great! Each answer is a possible articlebe a great researcher, and you need to be willing to
topic. Most of them won’t be specific enoughask questions. Lots of questions, sometimes. But
(or perhaps too specific) for an article, but they shouldthat’s one of the great things about writers--
give you lots of new starting points from which towe’re such curious creatures.
brainstorm angles.Write what you want to know, and soon enough,
Think of freelance writing as your own opportunity toit’ll be what you DO know.
learn about all the things you ever wanted to know,