When someone new thinks about becoming a freelance writer, they often start with writing about themselves. However, nothing paints a novice more than writing about themselves. Unless….they specialize in a niche area and can be considered an expert.

When someone new wants to write a book-length project, they often start with a memoir. The problem is the stories aren’t often mind-blowing nor are they written in a well-exercised and accomplished voice making them beautiful to read.

Write what you know is preached, discounted, and analyzed ad nauseum to the point the advice can’t be trusted. But if you are intent on writing what you know, you must:

1) Be an expert in a subject.
2) Have experienced a highly unusual event or some level of success.
3) Find a market like Chicken Soup.
3) Write only for family and self.

And even when you write about yourself, to make it interesting, you must:

1) Show vulnerability.
2) Know your audience.
3) Write about a highly unique topic.
4) Have a remarkable writing voice.
5) Show you clearly lived through it.
6) Write about something that has a broad interest to readers.

Frankly, once you test drive a few essays or stories about yourself, you might find yourself growing tired of doing so. Part of the enjoyment of writing is the discovery nature of it. Whether you are discovering emotion, vignettes of characters, plot, or writing style, there’s a wonderment to writing something new that you have to research and ponder and bring together. It’s about walking ground that you haven’t walked before.

Maybe it isn’t about writing what you know. Maybe it’s about writing what you feel.