Disclosed is a method for controlling a microstructure of an inorganic material includes providing a structure that has a first region of an inorganic material having a first microstructure and a second region that is thermally responsive to electromagnetic radiation, the second region being adjacent the first region, and indirectly heating the first region by thermally activating the second region, using electromagnetic radiation, to generate heat. The generated heat converts the first microstructure of the inorganic material to a second, different microstructure. The method can be applied to control a microstructure of an inorganic coating on an inorganic fiber.