Writing what you know... or what you don't?

One of the most common pieces of writing advice I’ve heard is “write what you know.”

I don’t like that.

I don’t like being limited to writing what I know. Do I know all the details about taking a Route 66 road trip? No, I don’t. But that didn’t stop me from writing a novel about it. It’s a dream of mine, but has yet to become a part of my reality, and that’s okay. That is one of the most beautiful things about writing – it gives you the opportunity to create these worlds where these things are made possible. Hogwarts isn’t something that J.K. Rowling “knew,” because it didn’t exist, but that didn’t stop her from writing incredible books and becoming one of the most successful authors of all time, if not THE most successful.

When you write, don’t limit yourself, or allow others to limit you. When you write, you’re allowed to play make believe and create whatever you want to create. You’ll never please everybody, so please yourself, and others will follow.

Harley Lyn