In my former life as a military journalist, I became very familiar with the service in which I served (US Air Force). I also attacked plenty of subjects I enjoyed and loathed. Off the top of my head, I probably wrote 3,000 to 4,000 stories in 21 years.
However, I always believed in the zag. That is, when others zigged into familiar territory, I always liked zagging into areas unknown to me. For example, when none of my colleagues wanted to cover a conference about rewriting Air Force doctrine, I jumped at it. I saw it from three angles:
- I got to write stories about a fairly lofty topic and communicate that to the Airmen who did the blue collar work.
- I got to meet and interview at length a gaggle of three- and four-star generals and talk to the highest ranking civilian in the Air Force.
- I spent a week learning something new.
Yours truly, from 1993.
Telling those stories to taxpayers and the Airmen who did the blue-collar work appealed to me most. After all, why did a person who turned wrenches on jet engines need to know about doctrine? Well, if the doctrine changed, ultimately, his career could change. And I was always relentlessly committed to serving those Airmen. After all, I was one of them and I believed my duty lie in taking the charcoal grey ambiguity and turning that into black and white clarity. I loved it. I still love it.
I find myself doing something similar in writing fiction. I love launching into topics I know little about but have always had curiosity. Sure, I have a raft of knowledge about the federal government, the US Air Force, jet fighters, cargo aircraft, special forces and much more from two decades of doing it, but I also really like the idea of two nuns being murdered on Mars and a federal Marshall being sent from Earth to find out why.
I suppose my message is this: Don’t be afraid to write about what interests you, even if you don’t have bushel of knowledge about it. There are books and search engines and websites and people and initiative to help you get there.
How About You? Do you zag?
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I am the co-host and creator of "The Science Fiction Show" podcast with my good friends Keith Houin and Michael Wistock. Join us each Friday for a look at all things Sci-Fi in the world of pop culture, TV, film and more. How? Easy! 
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My short story, "The Lives Magda Made," was accepted into the horror anthology, "No Rest for the Wicked" from Rainstorm Press. The book is due out in May 2012.
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I don’t know if I zag with my writing, but I’m always the one to play devil’s advocate if a need arises. Or even when it doesn’t. I don’t know why I do that, but I like to look at things from a different perspective.
That said, my current wip is light paranormal (time travel) which I never in a million years thought I’d write.
So…why were these nuns on Mars?
I’m trying to zag more in my writing, but I confess–I find it difficult! I don’t always trust myself to learn what I need. I’m a slow learner!