Pauline Rowson on what makes a fiction writer

It’s often said that you should write about what you know, but I don't agree. I’ve
never committed a murder, or been a police officer, and neither am I married to
one. I’ve had no previous experience or knowledge of the law, except what I’ve
read in crime novels, and I’ve never been to an autopsy, yet after many trials
and tribulations I finally got the job as a crime writer. It’s my belief then that you should write
what you are enthusiastic about, but you also need some additional qualities.

Persistence and patience are
essential in order to be able to ferret out the information you require. This can
be desk research via the Internet, the library and/or by speaking to individuals.

Click on the above title or the link to the right to read more of this article.