Write what you don't know

Writing fiction does not mean that you're writing what you don't know, you can still use elements and anecdotes that you've experienced as key plot points in stories set in fantastical and odd worlds. I would even argue it's impossible to write without adding your own life to it.

Writing what you know is interesting imo, because you naturally have more layers to your story when you have experience backing it. Describing walking through the desert when you've never been in one is completely different from having put your bare feet into the Sahara sands.

>>Write what your heart boldly tells you to write even though your mind might be afraid.

Well, I just did that on hn. Hope you [and I] are right. :)

Just curious, what are you guys using to take notes? I used to write my notes down in a journal but worrying about someone finding my inner thoughts worries me. I literally searched for a self destructing journal.

I am using Samsung notes backed to the cloud but now but am also worried about my privacy, if I write the wrong stream of thoughts would I get arrested or have my own thoughts used as evidence against me in the future just because I expressed myself... Privately

Coincidentally our book club just picked one of her novels, I just started reading it and can't believe I'd never heard of her before. Highly recommended.

Write what someone else knows. You'll get corrected which is free publicity.

Another angle, on nonfiction topics it can be a great exercise to explain what you think you know (but actually the details might be fuzzy). You’ll quickly identify previously unknown unknowns.

FYI: The author (Elif Safak) is a Turkish-British writer/novelist, who is found to be controversial and populist by many.

Such a strawman. "Write what you know" as an advise to (beginner) writers doesn't mean that nobody should ever write anything but what they have personally endured. There are many benefits of write what you know even if you eventually end up writing more far-fetched fiction. In particular it allows beginning writers to focus and practice more on other areas of writing when the subject matter is already familiar. Also it can lower the threshold for writing and thus get people just to write more which is probably the single most important aspect in improving as a writer.

I also point out that write what you know doesn't mean just personal experience. It can also refer to the writer having some deep knowledge of some subject matter, such as certain historical period or some specific region, or even some more abstract things such some emotions or relationships

I liked the article, surprised it did not get attention here.