Following the muse

So the saying goes that when it comes to fiction, "Write what you know." Um, no. If I only wrote about that which I know, you all would be bored to death. Or I would. I think the challenge of a writer is to research subjects to include in our stories - and to make those elements fall seamlessly into the narrative. The first satire that I wrote – a long one about the Twilight Saga – had me researching everything from glow-in-the-dark algae to how sound carries in a forest. Nerd that I am, I loved every minute of the research. It helped inspire other elements of my writing. So the next time someone wags a finger at you and tells you to write only what you know, tell them that wonder is the beginning of a writer's muse –and follow it and see where it takes you.