Facts.  I was going to discuss this under R for Research, but I'm saving that letter for another one of The Big 5.  When it comes to writing you could go several ways with this topic, but I'll zero in on one of the fundamentals.  All too often we hear the phrase "write about what you know."  Excellent advice.  Unfortunately, this might fool you into thinking that your writing should be limited to that storehouse of information trapped between your ears—in that fun-filled theme park you call your brain.  Sure, it's the Disneyland of quirky characters, clever plot lines, exotic landscapes and forbidden romance.     

...BUT...

The phrase "write what you know" goes way beyond that.   It also refers to that roller coaster ride called "doing your research" or for the sake of this discussion, "gathering your facts."   It's very important not to skimp here.  You can write effectively about anything if you study it to the point where you "know" it.  A story that's built on supposition and half-truths will become a writer's very own Tower of Terror.  Readers are smart.  They know things.  As it turns out, it is a small world after all.  When readers find glaring mistakes in your writing, a seed of doubt creeps into their minds, and you undermine your credibility AND your story.  So...gather your facts.  For the love of all things sacred, get them right.  Then you're off to the races. You're ready to write what you know.  Your story is right there, waiting for you to add the juicy parts.  And that's the best ride of all.