How to write about something you know nothing about

Are you new to freelance writing and haven’t figured out your niche yet? Or maybe there's a new niche you want to get into or a new industry you're excited about and want to write about, but you’re not sure how exactly to do that.

Early in our freelancing careers, we (as most freelance writers) took on a LOT of projects we knew nothing about. Today, while we specialize, we also occasionally stretch our wings into new projects and subject matters as a good challenge for our skills.

In this episode, we’re sharing our tips for how to do this well (without getting in over your head.)

How do you write about something you know nothing about?

When you're a freelance writer just starting out, research is a good idea. Be a sponge and learn everything you can about different areas where you have interest.

Reading articles and watching videos when you want to lean into a new subject matter are just scratching the surface. Here are some other activities that’ll help you better understand what you need to know.

Talk with clients: get the bigger picture

Ask your client for information and resources you’re going to need to get up to speed. Talk to people in the company to get a better idea of how the company functions across product, marketing, engineering, and all other different areas.

“Without the big picture understanding of what the company does, who they're selling to, and what they're selling, content doesn't work.”

Read the onboarding documents

Onboarding documents provide a lot of information. Many people rush through these onboarding documents and don’t take the time to fully absorb them. But if you do, you're going to go into the project feeling confident and informed about what you’re supposed to accomplish.

Ask for help from experts

After you’re done reading articles about the topic, you can level up your game by talking to experts in the industry. Have conversations with the subject matter experts about how things work. Rely on the experts for knowledge and then translate that knowledge into comprehensive, readable summaries.

Another option is to opt for a review of your draft by an expert or a senior writer. They look over your draft, give suggestions, and make sure it's ready to go.

Move away from unfamiliarity

“Writing when you know nothing about the topic is unsustainable.”

Writing about a lot of different topics is a good recipe for burnout. It’s a lot more time-intensive to get onboarded with new clients over and over than it is to work consistently with the same group of clients (on similar topics.)

When you work with a lot of different subject matter you’re unfamiliar with, you’ll likely:

Spend hours learning about the topic from scratch
Have to invest in time spent on calls with customers, executives, and SMEs
Learn brand new industry-specific vocabulary and language

Reinventing the wheel for your writing process every single time is exhausting. Eventually, you want to narrow down your niche to a specific industry, writing style, or area of focus. With a niche, every time you write you’re honing your knowledge around your specialty.

How to learn and expand your knowledge as a freelance writer

The path that moves away from this situation where you’re constantly writing about things you know nothing about is by expanding your knowledge base. There are multiple ways you can do this.

Case for in-house jobs

When you’re first starting, one of the best ways to build expertise in a niche is to get an in-house job. If you’ve worked at a B2B SaaS company, you know a lot about B2B SaaS, right? Starting with freelance writing is possible, but a full-time job experience gives you the option to leverage that prior knowledge in a more autonomous role.

Use the apprenticeship model

You can also become an apprentice to an established freelance writer in your niche. In doing so, you're getting an inside look at how they approach tackling a particular subject from start to finish. Find somebody who's at the level you want to be at and see if they’re looking for help.

Work with an agency

If you’re uncomfortable with a full-time job, working for an agency might be a good fit for you. Often agencies don't have high rates, but they have a steady supply of work. They understand how clients work, and you can have an open conversation about your struggles. If you work for an agency specialized in a specific area, it can be a good way to level up as well.

Develop a reading habit

Books are more comprehensive than an internet article, youtube video, or podcast. There are plenty of books about every industry and space, for example, software, customer psychology, the history of fashion, etc. Don’t be afraid to head to the local library and dive in.

Stay updated about changes in your niche

There are many places to have conversations with other freelance writers. Ask questions about what you don't know. Keep an eye on what’s happening and what people are saying in your space.

Listen to podcasts for news and trends.
Find people on social media who actively post about the topics you’re learning about.
Join niche-focused communities on LinkedIn, Facebook groups, Slack channels, etc.

Closing tips

Don't write something without asking questions. Your client and editors understand the subject matter and can spot gaps in knowledge and areas for optimization. If there’s something you’re unsure about, ask questions. Asking questions is better than pretending to understand the thing you don’t.

“I would always rather have writers come to me and ask questions than try to guess at it.”

Finally, don’t fall into the trap of over-investing in subscriptions to different media outlets, courses, and AI software that promise a quick fix for the content you're writing. Always look for the free stuff first—there's so much free information about everything on the internet.