When you write what you know, how close does your writing get to the deepest truth your self-awareness can provide?

Our self-awareness is limited. We have personal boundaries. Readers include people we know and people we don’t know. So what do you do?

In my own writing, I’ve realized that choices are more personal than thoughts. This is convenient. Thoughts are a maleable source of motivation and kindling for tension. Characters are more interesting to explore if they don’t do what you did.