Quote Originally Posted by Powerone
Don't be afraid of writing things you haven't experienced. Most writers (I hope) have not experienced rape, murder, etc. but can convey the feelings of the characters. That is what makes a good writer, where you can place the reader into the action.
Quote Originally Posted by Ursula Le Guin
I have never been on a scout spacecraft. On the other hand, I know what it is like to operate a computer; I know what it is like to be alone for long periods, and I know what it is like to live in cramped conditions. So I am writing what I know, in a way.
(That quote is entirely from memory, so it may be a long way from correct.)