The Hidden Danger Behind “Write What You Know” That Every Writer Needs to Hear

You’ve probably heard the advice a million times: “Write what you know.” It sounds straightforward, maybe even safe—like sticking to the shore instead of sailing into uncharted waters. But here’s the kicker: does that really mean your screenplay has to be a diary entry or a carbon copy of your own life? Spoiler alert—it doesn’t. The phrase is tossed around so casually that many writers end up boxing themselves into stories that are painfully familiar but painfully dull. The truth? Whether you’re mining your own experiences or diving headfirst into realms utterly foreign to you, what truly matters is making your audience believe every twist and turn. So, how do you balance the comfort of the known with the thrill of the unknown and still keep your screenplay anything but snooze-worthy? In this post, we’ll unpack the layers beneath this old cliché and show you how to write what you know—or think you know—and still craft a spec script that grabs readers by the collar and doesn’t let go. LEARN MORE