Knowing what you write (#SFWApro)

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of “write what you know” (half my published stories wouldn’t exist if I did) but personal experience can enhance a story. My trip to Boston reminded me of that.

If I were determined to write a story in 21st century Boston, there’s a lot I could learn by reading guidebooks. But I’m not sure I’d find out (as noted in the previous post) how courteous the drivers were to pedestrians. Or that the underground (“The T”) doesn’t work the same way as the DC Metro (you punch the ticket when you start the journey, not at the end). Or that Boston has a huge Asian-American population. Or that if you decide at the last minute you want to take a live lobster on your plane flight home, that can be arranged.

Not that any of this is make-or-break stuff. Some stories make the setting an integral character, but plenty don’t. Research can take you a long way (I wrote Peace With Honor without any personal experience of Vietnam or the Vietnam War, but I think it worked).
Still, adding in small details never hurts.