Should a First-Time Author Only Write About Something They Know?
- schlesadv
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
Why “what you know” helps first-time authors
1. Authority shows up on the page
When you know the subject:
Details feel natural, not researched-in
Confidence replaces hesitation
Readers trust the voice—even in fiction
You don’t need to be an expert in everything. You just need to sound like someone who belongs in the world you’re describing.
2. Emotional truth matters more than facts
“Write what you know” isn’t just about jobs or hobbies. It’s about:
Fear, ambition, grief, love, failure
Moral dilemmas you’ve faced
How it feels to want something badly and risk losing it
Even sci-fi and thrillers succeed because the emotional engine is real.
3. It reduces rookie mistakes
First books often stumble on:
Over-explaining
Inauthentic dialogue
Thin motivation
Writing from lived or deeply understood experience naturally solves a lot of that.
When not to stick strictly to what you know
1. If curiosity is pulling you elsewhere
Passion beats familiarity every time.If you’re genuinely obsessed with a subject you don’t know yet, you can:
Research deeply
Interview people
Immerse yourself
Readers can tell the difference between lazy research and committed curiosity.
2. If “what you know” feels too safe
Some first-time authors trap themselves by thinking:
“I’m only allowed to write about my life.”
Not true. You’re allowed to transform experience, not just document it.
A practical rule of thumb
For a first book, try this:
Write about something you know emotionally, in a world you can either know or learn thoroughly.
Examples:
You’ve never been a detective → but you do know obsession and moral compromise
You’ve never been in war → but you do know fear, loyalty, and loss
You’ve never run a biotech company → but you do know ambition, secrecy, and power
(Those emotional truths carry the story.)
Publishing exceptional books of all genres, since 2008
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