Introduction
Write what you know is one of those adages that gets hurled around a lot,. But should writer s really ad

image by Stancu Alexandru via sxc.hu
image by Stancu Alexandru via sxc.hu

here to it? Or should it be taken with a grain of salt?

1. Writing what you know means becoming an expert on the subject matter. And can only take you so far before you reach the limits of your knowledge .

2. Writing what you know can be boring. Retreading the same subject matter again and again without a new spin will get old with readers and eventually drive them away.

3. Writing what you don’t know is fun. It allows you to learn new things. And see the subject matter in a new light.

4. Writing what you don’t know can be liberating. Instead of being stuck in the same mode of writing trying new approaches may open up new avenues of creativity.

5. Writing what you don’t know forces you to stop playing it safe and get out of your comfort zone.

Conclusion
Writing what you know, while a good rule of thumb for new writers, ultimately can be stifling , and lead you to stale and lack luster prose. But writing what you don’t know opens up new areas to explore and grow.

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