Should I write about what I know?

‘Write about what you know’ new writers are advised. If someone was to make a list of the most commonly given advice to new writers I am pretty sure ‘Write about what you know’ would be near the top of the list, if not at the top.

I write about education, nursing projects, social care, parenting, employment benefits. Oh I could go on but you get the idea. The list of subjects I write about is huge. Do I know a lot about the subjects I write about? I like to think I know quite a bit about them now, but often when I start out on the subject I know as much as the next person.

I learn as I go along. I read widely on the subjects I cover. The more I write about these areas the more I know, but I am constantly learning. Only writing about what I know would be restrictive. Writing about what you know can be a good start, but you shouldn’t limit yourself. Perhaps you do have a specialism that will provide you with plenty of material, or maybe you would just prefer to concentrate on one are, but you don’t have to.

The same goes for fiction writing. One of my favourite authors is Victoria Hislop. She has written about the Spanish Civil War, and about a Greek leprosy colony, among other subjects. I think it is a testament to how well Hislop researches and writes that her book that a TV adaptation of her book The Island was made for Greek television. Hislop thoroughly researches the topic she writes about.

So in short my answer to the question should I write about what I know is – no, don’t just write about what you know, know about what you write.