Conventional wisdom says that you’re supposed to write what you know.
However, I have decided to go the harder route and try writing what I don’t know.
Why am I trying to carry out this obviously horrible idea?
Because if I never try anything new, every single protagonist I write will be an introverted middle-class white girl from the midwest.
In this particular case, I am writing military sci-fi so I have to learn more about the armed forces.
How hard could that be?
It was a challenge at first. However, once you get past all the acronyms it still feels like your brain is melting.
Once you learn the ranking, then there’s the weapons and machines/equipment they use, and the training regiment. Then there’s figuring out the difference between a fire team, a squad, a platoon, a company, a battalion, a brigade and corps.
There are 8 to 16 soldiers in a squad, 2 or 4 squads in a platoon, 3 to 5 platoons in a company, 6 companies in a battalion, 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree.
When I venture out into uncharted territory, I always experience paralysis. Even after I do my homework and try to get as close to the facts as I can, there’s that persistent nagging sensation that tells me I’m going to get it wrong.
This leads to procrastination and mental gymnastics, all designed to keep me from trying.
Because not trying is better than trying and failing. Or at least that’s what my ego tells me.
Part of me wants to give up, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that the best way for a writer to understand something is for them to write about it. By doing that I was able to come up with a list of strategies to use to fix my problem and yours as well if you’re struggling like I am:
1. Get a beta reader who knows more about the subject you’re writing about than you. Hopefully, you have a friend or a friend of a friend who is knowledgeable about the topic you are writing about and would be willing to provide their services. If they are reluctant to do so, I would recommend bribery: a pizza dinner for every chapter they read.
2. Get another beta reader who knows less about the subject than you. While you want to write like someone who understands the subject they’re talking about, you don’t want to get so technical that only people who are directly involved in this line of work or have studied this subject comprehend what you’re saying.
3. Reconcile yourself with the fact that you may get something wrong anyway. Try as hard as you can to make a good product. But if you wait until everything is perfect you’ll never produce anything. Take it from someone who knows.
Now go out there, my pretties, and make good work!
The Crooked Pen 