“Write what you know” my writing instructors said. When I heard this, I did a quick review of my mundane life and decided it might be the most boring book ever written. Instinctively, I knew that if I didn’t apply a significant amount of hyperbole, my dream of a writing career would be over before it began.

I jumped into the first draft of SEDUCTION: Love. Loss. Leverage. Murder. Four months later, I asked local friendly readers for their opinion. It turned out, my heroine was me at that time—reactive as opposed to proactive. She had no agency over her outcome, even though her reactions saved lives.

Over the next five years, I honed my skills in character arcs, plot points, and story. I’ve learned more and more with the writing my six novels. As I start my seventh book, I know more than when I started. Why? I keep reading, analyzing, editing, researching, and listening — all of which are now ever-present.

“What You Know” is only limited by the willingness to develop critical thinking and an eagerness to explore why and how things happen, work, or impact lives. Research, read, find truths, and explore empathy, pathology, cause and effect. Consider the whys and what-ifs of all that happens in the ripples around one’s existence.

“What You Know” refers not necessarily to our immediate daily life, but to the volumes of information we have to deal with on a personal and interpersonal level, on our awareness and participation with the external world, and on our individual level of curiosity.

Curiosity is the key to expanding “What You Know.” As knowledge expands, so does awareness. This combination of curiosity and awareness exponentially increased my ability to “see” things that I can never “unsee.” While I found comfort in some observations, I also found rage and passion. Writing gives me the form to share, vent, and experiment with ideas.

If you’ve been held back by “Write What You Know,” I hope you now realize you know a lot. If you need more information, research is available via computers, phones, and tablets. For a hands-on experience, there’s the public library. All are available to enhance our lived experience—thank goodness.

Photo by Rainhard Wiesinger on Unsplash