We’ve all heard the advice: Write what you know.

If you write non-fiction, that’s pretty good advice.  You are writing as an expert in a field; you ought to know something about it.  Or, at the very least, get busy and research it and become an instant expert.  Non-fiction by definition means you are writing facts.

You could be writing a humorous book and no one expects it to be factual. If that’s the case, you can get away with pretty much anything – just as long as it brings a laugh or at least a smile to the reader.

But what about fiction?  Suppose you’re writing fantasy.  A lot of that is going to have to come from your imagination.  Or science fiction?  Again, write what your imagination can supply.  Did Jules Vern know anything about atomic submarines?  No.  Of course, he doesn’t really mention atomic when describing his submarine; we readers infer that.  But he probably did know about submarines.  They first appeared in the 1860’s and he wrote 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1870.  And he had seen lightning and could imagine harnessing such power to drive a submarine.  But, the majority of his book came from his imagination.

What about writing a historical romance? You can research the period in which you are setting your book and make it as accurate as possible that way.

What if I’m writing a mystery set in my area?  I can talk to the local law enforcement people, get the procedures they use.  Talk to other people who are in the fields that your novel covers.  If it involves the banking industry, go talk to the local banker.  If it involves the construction business, talk to local people in construction.

You can talk to a pathologist to understand how an autopsy is performed.  And the local funeral home operator will be more than happy to tell you about his role in handling the deceased.

As a rule, these people are happy to discuss their area of expertise with you.  You tell them you are writing a book and want it to be accurate when discussing their field.  I’ve not had one tell me they didn’t have time to answer questions.  Often, they will give you a tour of the facilities in which they work.  You in turn will acknowledge their help in the book.

Readers know when you are giving them phony information.  That usually turns them off and you may have lost those readers for all time. And even if your topic is science fiction or fantasy, make certain that it is reasonable, plausible, or within the boundaries that your book has set.

If you read the acknowledgements for a book, you often find that the author has tapped into many resources to ensure that the book is authentic.  And that’s the key.  You don’t have to know everything to write about it.  You just have to consult with those who do know.

So, we might change the old, “Write what you know,” to a more modern, “Write what you know or can research or imagine.”