"Write what you know" - Nathan Englander on Misunderstood Advice

Author Nathan Englander explains that the age-old writing advice "write what you know" isn't about events, it's about universal emotions like love, loss, and longing.

Directed / Produced by
Jonathan Fowler and Elizabeth Rodd

Nathan Englander: I think the most famous piece of writing advice that there is, is "write what you know." And I think it's, honestly, I think it's the best piece of advice there is, but I think it is the most misunderstood, most mis-taught, most misinterpreted piece of advice that there is. It's so simple and so obvious and it used to terrify me, this idea of "write what you know." I was dreaming . . . I was in suburbia, you know, in my house, dreaming of being a writer, and I thought, what am I going to do with " write what you know?"

What I know from childhood is, I was on the couch watching TV, so I should simply rewrite a whole series of sitcoms for you. I should write a book called What's Happening, and then I should write a book called Little House on the Prairie's on at Five O'Clock. You know what I'm saying? That was my childhood experience, and this didn't feel to me when I thought of the books that I love and the kind of stuff that I wanted to write, it felt like, I am going to be very limited by "write what I know."




You know, this idea, like, my family history . . . we don't . . . you know, I'm very American. I don't know my family history. That's something I address in the new book. I wrote a story about that very idea. But I don't know my family history and, to me, as a kid out in suburbia, that wasn't the most thrilling life. You know, the central part of growing up for those of us who were, like, disenfranchised suburban kids was wanting to leave that town or that world or that house--you know, I love you, mom, but nonetheless.

So for me, when I thought about "write what you know," when I really thought about it, I understood, like, what it is, is empathic advice. It's advice about feeling.

You know, most of the books that we truly love don't exist because these things did not happen to the people that were writing them. But why do we love those books? Why do they change us? Why do they touch our hearts? Why do they hold so much meaning? Because, they are truer than truth, 'cause there is a great knowing within them. And I think what's behind "write what you know" is emotion. Like, have you known happiness? Have you ever been truly sad? Have you ever longed for something? And that's, the point is: if you've longed for an Atari 2600, as I did when I was 12, you know, like, all I wanted was that game console. You know what I'm saying? If you have felt that deep longing, that can also be a deep longing for a lost love or for liberation of your country or to, you know, reach Mars. You know, that's the idea. If you've known longing, then you can write longing.

And that's . . . you know, that is the knowing behind write what you know.

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[Madelyn Blaze]

I have to agree with Diego on this one. A Big Mac is junk food for your body, and the Twilight series is junk food for your mind. How much "Oh, Edward" and "Oh, Bella" and mope, mope, mope can you deal with in one series? If you want trash, watch any tv show with a Kardashian in it. If you want good accessible and fun writing, there are a lot of better authors out there - you just have to look for them. Ask your local librarian, they usually give the best suggestions.

[Madelyn Blaze]

No, really, Stephanie Meyer is really just a terrible writer - period. Check out L. J. Smith's first four Vampire Diaries novels for the origional idea of a teenage girl in love with a vampire (published in the early '90's) written in an engaging and fast-paced way. Also, the Vampire Academy books and the House of Night books are well written and interesting. Stephanie Meyer just happened to hit the topic at the right time - pure luck not great business.

[TeryoLawVideos]

"Write what you know" basically means "JUST BE REAL WITH YO SHIT". It's about being honest. Doesn't matter whether or not it's some space alien story, imagination is something that you can know very well. Its nice that someone else got it right too.

[riseandfalloficarus]

Why look for mediocre when you can have excellency?

[Anna Lucia]

I think the biggest problem I have is that I want other people to like my writing. I'm so busy trying to imagine what they might think when reading my story that it almost blocks my train of thoughts... And that can be really frustrating cause what I love most about writing is that you just rely on what's in YOUR head, and what YOU feel, and if others like that too...well, then JACKPOT! But actually you should do it for no one but yourself, right?

[MrRookitty]

Ahh Anne Rice's Interview with the vampire series is an extremely good series! Almost all her books connect into this one continuum of supernatural beings running into each other, but all these beings are not the stereotypical sort! You have vampires, then a unique breed of witches, and then a spawn of nonhuman called the taltos that was birthed between a spirit and a which. I recommend most of her books^^

[S2Cents]

Heh, of course you're right. It is an incoherent, purely illusory notion.

[JonaSports7]

"In truth, none of us are perfect" ... Who/What would be a perfect individual? What kind of acts, attributes, etc? Would this individual have

[CeruleanPhoenix7]

I completely agree with what Mr. Englander is saying here. Often I have found that I connect with a novel much more deeply when I make an emotional connection with it. Emotions are something that are at the core of humanity, and I think that they are also at the core of great writing.

[Conefed]

Mentioning Kardashians and Jersey Shore is overly played and deceptively incorrect. Neither should be automatically disregarded as trash, because both are rife with value. In truth, none of us are perfect. These shows grant us third party participation to view both imperfections and triumphs of the individual and of community, and with each the paths that lead to and from. From all can then be reflected and internalized and applied to our daily surroundings, which aren't to off in form.