Editor's Note: In conjunction with his publication of his new book, "Good Prose," Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author Tracy Kidder and editor Richard Todd will host “Good Prose Month” on Biographile.com, with the goal of bringing together the strongest voices in nonfiction to share insight into the writing and editing process with the next generation of authors. Every day during the month of January, visit Biographile.com for a new Good Prose tip, lesson, or story from bestselling authors, award-winning journalists, acclaimed editors, and favorite storytellers. The conversation will continue on Twitter with a weekly #GoodProse chat about the craft of writing, hosted by selected authors from a range of nonfiction genres.

Karen Lord is a writer and research consultant in Barbados. Her debut novel, Redemption in Indigo, won the Frank Collymore Literary Award, the William L. Crawford Award, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature, and was nominated for the 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.

There is no replacement for research and experience when it comes to accurately portraying a culture that is not your own. Some authors spend years immersed in the world they wish to depict in story. That world may be real or fictional, and the best fictional worlds are based on real cultures and history. Tolkien’s Middle Earth had linguistic and mythic depth because it was rooted in his knowledge of British and Scandinavian languages and legends.

Research can only go so far with present-day, living cultures. The writer must take responsibility for portraying modern cultures accurately, especially when stereotypes have real-world consequences for members of that culture. It is best to ask someone knowledgeable to read and comment on the manuscript. There is no guarantee that the result will be perfect – if you ask an American to look at a manuscript set in New York, there will be only so much they can do for you if they hail from Texas – but it is necessary to get feedback from those who already know the most obvious clichés and caricatures.

Writing about different cultures gives an author a good excuse to read widely, travel all over, and gain a diverse range of friends and colleagues. It may seem a difficult task, but there are rewards at every step. Don’t be afraid to learn.

Karen Lord's latest, The Best of All Possible Worlds, comes out February 12, 2013.