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As writers we often hear the advice to write what we know. I may have started out that way but I often quickly find that my stories move into unknown territory. My first novel was differently based on experience but it wasn’t based on my experience alone. I added many layers that were not part of my own biography.

What made me come to this conclusion has to be when one of my clients wanted to know if I knew anything about commercial landscaping. I had never written on this topic before and we’ll see how I do when the assignment begins tomorrow, but my response to him was, “I didn’t know anything about the other projects you’ve assigned to me.” Lucky for me every one of those assignments went off much better than expected. I never thought I would be writing about a Christian childcare center, patio cover company, two locksmithing businesses, watch repair, an appliance repair business and a fire safety corporation. Not only have I written about those things, I’ve done a pretty good job at it as well.

Thanks to research and some critical thinking about what people want and what they expect from an interaction with any of these businesses has been my guide.

So the next time you wonder if you can write about something, remember that you really don’t know until you try. Certainly research is huge, but how you translate that research into relatable experience that causes people to connect is the real test.

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