Aphorism: Write What You DON’T Know

Write What You Know. That’s foundational writing advice. Attributed (falsely, like many other bits of wisdom and wit) to Mark Twain.

I first encountered “Write What You Know” when my Uncle Howard was describing the 1933 film “Little Women,” starring Katherine Hepburn as Jo March. Howard was, as usual, entertaining me, but also attempting to inspire me to be an independent woman and artist like the fictional Ms. March and the real-life Hepburn.

In the novel, Jo March is an aspiring novelist who’s writing sensational books of throwaway fiction. Pirate stories and the like. A wise professor advises her to write about things that are closer to home, known to her. He tells her that is if she wants her writing to be meaningful and impactful she should draw from her own life.

Makes sense, right?

Naturally, our writing will be informed by what we have knowledge about. Yet, I believe that fresh and vital writing requires opening ourselves to the bigger mystery. Invoke the muse. Invite the words to spill. Listen. Take dictation. And thereby find “what wants to be said.” If we’re doing it right, we’ll discover much that we truly DON’T KNOW.

It’s like beginner’s mind — but that’s a whole other thing.

Get yourself into position to be surprised. That’s the key. That’s the whole essence of the work I do.