Share your expertise and write what you know

Mark Twain is often credited with advising young writers to “write what you know.” The thinking is that writers will produce a richer and more convincing story if they have experienced the things that they are writing about.  

Many authors have put this admonition to good use. In 2021, Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut and a former commander of the International Space Station, wrote The Apollo Murders, a thriller set in space. In 1969, Michael Crichton, who had an MD from Harvard, published The Andromeda Strain, a techno-thriller about a deadly extraterrestrial microbe.  

If you are a retiree and no longer pouring most of your energy into a career, you may be tempted to take up your pen (or computer) and write something interesting and informative. I did that shortly after I retired and wrote two books based on my river-rafting experiences in Canada’s north. Although my books, Rafting the Great Northern Rivers and Rafting the Snake, were based on my experiences, as Twain advised, I was not an expert in that field and could not find a publisher. Eventually, I self-published with Friesen Press.  

With my next foray into book publishing, I went even deeper into “write what you know.” For many decades, I was a neurologist and headache specialist. I have discussed migraine and other headache disorders with literally thousands of people, in an effort to improve their lot. I wrote a third book called The Headache Files, and this time a certified Canadian publisher, Durvile & UpRoute, was willing to work with me. In fact, I had sent Durvile a different manuscript which they rejected, but they then advised me to “write what you know” and do a book on headaches. 

As a retired university or college professor, you probably have special expertise. The knowledge you have, if properly packaged, may be of interest to many others. If you have a creative spark and have enjoyed your career, you may find immense satisfaction in sharing what you know.  

There will be, however, one more decision to make. Should you write a scholarly book for other academics? If so, there are publishers like Cambridge Scholars Publishing and Elsevier that will be happy to work with you. The audience will be erudite but probably limited. The other option is to go further outside your comfort zone and write a book for the public.  

With The Headache Files, I chose the latter route and tried to make the science behind headache interesting (which it is) but also intelligible to the non-health professional. It never hurts to throw in a little history, and the book starts off with the chapter entitled “Migraine Through the Ages.” It is fascinating to explore what the physicians of times gone by, from Galen of ancient Rome to Thomas Willis of 17th century England, thought about migraine, a malady that has probably been with us for as long as there have been humans.  

Just because you are writing for a lay audience does not mean you cannot go deeply into some very interesting topics. The Headache Files discusses migraine genetics and even has a chapter on heroic treatments for migraine like closing a hole in the heart or implanting stimulating electrodes on the occipital nerves. Perhaps you can even make your book a thriller. I tried this by writing a chapter on “Headache in the Emergency Room.” Above all, though, what you write must be readable and interesting. I included many stories based on the patients I had seen, along with some stories about me, to keep the narrative flowing. If you have had a long career, you probably have some good stories and anecdotes, no matter what your field! 

In our current world of misinformation, it is important that people like the members of university retiree associations share their knowledge, both to document the history of our society, and to provide good, solid information that people can count on. If you do participate in this endeavour, it will require effort and time, but it will be worthwhile and very enjoyable. It will also contribute to your university’s mission to reach out and educate the community.