I Have People

We always hear this: Write what you know.

I say this: Never limit yourself.

I can only speak for myself, but I know a lot about some things, not so much about others. Overall, I know a little about a lot of things. But there are also many things about which I know nothing except that they exist or that people do them or whatever. Then there are those things that I don't have a clue about. Don't know they exist at all. I'm sure there are a ton of those.

Probably we're all pretty much alike in this way.

I write mystery and romantic suspense. There are body counts. I've never killed anyone or watched anyone die. There are male and female points of view. I'm not a man.

You get the idea. For many things, our imaginations are enough. We go online to find bits of information that fill in gaps.

But there comes a time when we need more. How do we find it? We ask. You may get a dozen no's, but then you'll hit the jackpot. You'll find someone who knows someone.

I know this from experience.

Right now there's a scene in the manuscript I'm editing that involves sailing on a Hobie. I know nothing about that. I don't sail, and I've never been on any type of sailboat. I went online and found a lot of information, but what I found didn't really help in my scene.

So I asked around. The most wonderful man is now helping me whip this scene into shape.

Be prepared.

On the first go, I heard things like this doesn't make sense . . . this couldn't happen . . . no one does this . . . and more.

That's why we need people to help us.

I've incorporated his first round of suggestions into the scene and sent it back. I'm waiting to see how close I've come to getting it right. Probably another go or two after this one before the technical part comes together.

This is why writers need people. None of us wants to be accused of ignorance or not doing our research.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

It's nice to have people.