Many writing teachers say you should “write what you know.” This
is good advice – you should utilize your unique background, experiences, and
knowledge. It’s easiest to write what you know, and your expertise can be a strong
selling point for your book.
But what if you’ve always wanted to learn about sheep herding
or jellyfish or how to play the kazoo? Does the fact that you’re not already an
expert mean you can’t write about them? Not at all! Writing can be a great way
to explore topics you want to study. It just takes some extra time and effort.
Imagine that you’ve agreed to write a how-to book on
knitting despite never having picked up a pair of needles. You could read books
or watch YouTube to learn the basics. But unless you spend hours practicing,
you won’t be able to write authoritatively about it—and trust me, your readers
will notice!
As nonfiction writers, we have a responsibility to our
audience to be accurate. It’s important to do our homework, and especially so
when we’re writing outside our zone of expertise. This means not just finding
facts and stringing them together, but also framing them in a larger context of
understanding. Which facts are important, and why? And how do they relate to
each other? For a picture book, this might not be too daunting. But for a
longer book, it can mean months or even years of immersion and study.
It’s the same with science, history, art, or any other
nonfiction topic. I’m an ecologist by training, so I’ve written lots of books
on life science topics. But I’ve also written on Ancient Egypt, the Titanic,
the laws of physics, and even bicycle safety. It took months and a maxed-out
library card to get enough of a handle on some of these topics to write about
them effectively.
It also required outside help. In each of these cases, an
expert reviewed the manuscript before it went to press. When I wrote Amazing Amphibians, my background
knowledge helped immensely. But I’m not a herpetologist. So I contacted one and
asked him to review the manuscript. He caught a few errors, suggested some
additions, and clarified some points, ultimately making the book stronger. Don’t
skip this step—it’ll help you sleep better at night.
So, should you write what you know, or what you don’t know?
I say either—or both. Share your unique knowledge with the world—or go down
that bunny trail. Just be sure to do your homework first!
Amazing Amphibians explores the major amphibian groups—frogs,
salamanders, and caecilians—including their anatomy, behavior, and conservation
needs. The book will be published in January 2020, and is available wherever
books are sold. For more on Lisa’s books as well as her critique and mentorship
services, see www.LisaAmstutz.com.
