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Craft of Writing Virginia G. McMorrow Why and How to Write What You Don't Know Many agents, editors, and writing teachers advise you to write only what you know. By doing so, you add rich details that bring a fiction scene to life, make a feature interview more engaging, and allow yourself an easier time of writing. Not only does writing about what's familiar provide credibility to your material, it also proves to your reader that you know your stuff. So yes, writing what you know is completely reasonable advice (with the obvious exception of writing a murder mystery, and committing a murder to understand the mind of a psychopathic killer). However, I believe there are times when you should go out on that literary limb, reach out with all your senses, and write about topics that you don't know. The discussion that follows will address the rationale behind my belief—emotion, knowledge, and skill development—as well as how to go about such writing without looking foolish. The Reasons Why: An Emotional Punch When you write on a topic or situation about—perhaps something that's missing in your life—that subject provides an emotional punch that can only serve to make your material more engrossing. As a writer, I try to touch my readers in some way: make them laugh, cry, be angry, whatever emotion I'm seeking. And to do that, my themes usually revolve around the relationships of families and friends. For example, I was born and bred in New York City, but most of my fiction deals with small-town life. Though a city resident, I grew up in a neighborhood where my extended family was either upstairs, downstairs, or two blocks away—a situation that I no longer have. Family and friends are scattered, a universal theme to which many readers can relate. So my stories and novels usually employ a cast of characters who are all living in the same town or village, who are hip-deep into each other's business, and suffer the daily irritations that accompany such close living. Yet at bottom, the affection is real, the connections genuine, and the emotion true. The Reasons Why: Stretch Your Brain Another reason to write about what you don't know is to expand your own knowledge base. Is there a subject about which you feel passionate? Gardening? Cooking? Interior decorating? Forensic dentistry? I never realized how much the theater fascinated me until I started researching what went on behind the scenes and on stage—all of which helped me with a fantasy-murder I was writing at the time, along with several other novels after that. Whatever the subject, once you understand it completely, it allows you to transform your passion into a novel, or better yet, a nonfiction book that you can promote through workshops and trade organizations. Think about all the self-help and how-to books on the market. If you work as a freelance writer, you can use that topic and write numerous articles that focus on different perspectives of the same subject (see sidebar: Stretching a Topic). And while you're exploring the topic, you can be earning money and credentials. The Reasons Why: Professional Development The final reason to write about what you don't know is to stretch your writing muscles. By discovering all there is to know about an unfamiliar subject and using that knowledge in your writing, you learn how to incorporate it into your material, whether fiction or nonfiction. And remember, you don't have to use it all. For example, look at Patricia Cornwell's medical examiner (Dr. Kay Scarpetta) series. Her in-depth knowledge of autopsies and cause of death, along with microscopic forensic clues, is deftly interwoven into dialogue and narrative throughout the story. With practice, you avoid "lumping" all that new knowledge into one chapter or scene just to prove you know what you're talking about.

And Now, the How-to of It Every writer can find his or her own personal reasons why it's important to write about something new and strange—even though it's a frightening prospect. The first step is to understand the rationale; the second involves taking action. When you're ready to start this adventure, remember the following important concepts that will enhance your success: Research, research, research. With all the information available on the Internet, it's easy to find not only facts and figures, but also analytical reviews, anecdotes, and related discussions on your topic of choice. And if you're writing nonfiction, be sure to uncover the most recent findings and This point also holds true if you're writing murder mysteries and need state-of-the-art investigatory tools—unless you're writing about a small-town sheriff. Read related material. If you're writing nonfiction, research the different books and articles available on the topic. See how other writers address the issues. Do they follow the same slant as your intended idea?  What's the target audience? All of this information will help you when it comes time to market the book. For fiction, do the same reading to see how you can make your new expertise unique. For example, in fantasy, stories about dragons and elves abound; good story tellers can—and still do—make their tales distinctive through characterization, imagination, and hard work. Consult an expert. If you know anyone who works or studies in the field about which you're writing, ask them questions about things you might not understand. If you don't know anyone, and need technical answers, it's easy enough to find a professional and introduce yourself—and then, of course, acknowledge those contributors in the front pages of your book. Short forms. Practice writing about your topic through articles (if you're writing nonfiction) or short stories (if fiction). Not only will this step provide credentials when you sell the pieces, it will also enhance your ability to make the topic credible. Read aloud. By reading your material aloud to yourself or an objective listener, the awkward phrases become apparent. You can hear those  places where you might have crammed too much information into the scene and bogged down the dialogue or description. Trust your ear. It's a Writer's Decision Whether you write about what you know—or don't know—the bottom line is that you should write what's in your heart. The truth is simple: whether or not you know your "stuff," if your heart isn't in your writing, it will show, and the reader will peg you for a fraud.

Stretching a Topic You've just become an expert on hiking. Not only did you conduct  research on the Internet and speak with people who enjoy the sport, you went out and bought hiking equipment and actually explored different trails. You can write any number of articles, with photographs to enhance your story, as for example: A description of the conditions on a specific hiking trail for a hiking magazine The benefits of hiking a smooth trail vs. a steep one for a  health magazine Highlights of neighborhood paths for a local newspaper A description of a group climb you experienced for a hiking club newsletter The bonding experiences of a family hike for a parenting magazine Handling unexpected weather or animal life for a safety magazine An interview with a hiking expert for a sporting magazine Anything else your imagination can offer

About the Author
Virginia G. McMorrow is the author of four fantasy novels and  several mystery short stories, as well as numerous articles. She also teaches creative writing in adult education. Visit her web site at www.virginiamcmorrow.com.