The Writing Rule I Don't Follow

We’ve all heard the advice: write what you know. There’s truth in that. Your personal experiences, emotions, and observations give your work authenticity.

Fine. But, I think it’s even more important, and much more fun, to write about what you want to know.

Part of the reason I was drawn to newspaper reporting was simple. I’m fascinated by people. I want to know how they think, what they do, and why they do it. Writing gave me permission to ask questions. Some of those questions might have felt awkward in everyday conversation, but in an interview they became part of the job.

Longform writing for magazines and books gave me a chance to take a deep dive into subjects I wanted to learn.

When you write about something you don’t already understand, you approach it with a beginner’s mind. You notice details an expert might overlook. You make unexpected connections. One question leads to another, and before long you’ve uncovered ideas you never would have found if you’d stayed inside familiar territory.

Research isn’t a detour from writing. It’s often where the writing begins.