I’m sure you’ve heard the tried and true piece of writing advice, “Write what you know.” It only makes sense, in terms of realism and believability, but don’t let the advice hold you back. You aren’t stuck, from now until the end of time, writing about the same things over and over again, regurgitating the same old topics. If you’re tired of writing only what you know, then learn something knew.
That’s why I prefer to say know what you write.
It isn’t that you can’t write about horses if you don’t know about horses, it just means you’re going to have to do some research to learn about them — types, breeds, care, nutrition, personality…the information is out there. You can read about them in books, on the internet (being careful to find reliable sources of information), or, even better, you can find a way to get up close and personal with a horse and someone who works with them.
Sometimes, I really do think it is easier to stay with the familiar, which is why I often set my books in the Midwestern United States, especially Missouri and Kansas. I know these areas; I’ve lived there most of my life, so if it doesn’t matter where I set a story, why not go with someplace I know? Readers who know the area will recognize my expertise and believe it or not, readers who don’t know the area will recognize something genuine in the telling as well. I love reading stories set in other places when I can tell that the author has lived ther, knows the feel of the place, and knows the culture.
On the other hand, if I need to set a story someplace else, I won’t let a little thing like temporary ignorance hold me back. All I have to do is get to know what I’m writing and then I can write what I know.