The first piece

First piece I ever wrote professionally was a survey of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in 1987, for a publication aimed at specialist computer equipment manufacturers. Not the most interesting subject for a young business and technology journalist, but I felt I had done a good job.

It was explained to me how important it was that I paid meticulous attention to detail, ensuring all relevant products were included. Comparisons had to be consistent and comprehensive.

This initial work in 1987 set me up for my career as a business journalist and editor for the next nine years, until I left to set up an internet media business in 1996. It gave me a good grounding for all subsequent writing that I did in various jobs, and non-professionally, since then. It also provided some valuable insight into how someone with absolutely no knowledge of a subject could quickly gain sufficient understanding to be able to write about it with authority.

Since then, I have written about such diverse subjects as computers, defence technology and business, industrial relations, consumer electronics, white goods, network penetration testing, law, policing, naval history, forensic psychology and many, many more. In most cases I have known little or nothing about the subject before commencing an assignment.

A lot of the time I would speak to the experts in order to understand the subject. During this process, one of my key expectations was that the expert would brief me in terms I could understand, so that I could then write for my audience, whatever their level of knowledge. I thus became an expert at reading and listening to gobbledegook, and translating it into plain English.

At the same time, I developed an interest in writing fiction. This has always been more problematic and, on reflection, I think for one important reason. My business and technology writing background engendered an emphasis on fair and accurate reporting, a focus on fact and truth. While this emphasis on factual accuracy and authenticity may have its place in fiction writing, one has to know when to let go of the truth in order to be able to create an engaging fictional story.

These days, when writing fiction or non-fiction, my style is far more relaxed and less structured. My non-fictional writing tends to be more conversational in style, perhaps reflecting my age and tendency to intellectual wandering. In my fictional stories, I find it much easier now to make stuff up without losing authenticity.

One book, more than any other, has helped me to understand when to tell the truth as it is and when to bend it to suit the story's needs. Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle.

I explain how in this article.

Thanks for reading. Feedback always welcome.

Ray Taylor

August 15, 2023