Un-Comfort Zone
May 6th, 2008 Posted in d.challenerIt’s easy to become comfortable. And the older I get, the easier it seems. In some areas of life this isn’t a bad thing. For instance when juggling the extra-curricular activities of a family of six, I have no problem steering some kids into activities I’m familiar with—especially if it means fewer destinations for my own chauffeur service.
But in writing this comfort zone can be a very bad thing. While all readers, at one time or another, look for the familiar, writing that stands out is writing that is fresh and original. Comfortable is one thing, complacency is something completely different.
So how do we as writers stop ourselves from becoming complacent on our own writing?
The easiest way is to vary your reading. Sci-fi is my favorite genre, and I could easily slip into reading only that. But more I make a point to read from as many other genres as I can.
However, the best way is to keep trying new things with your own writing. Experiment. Art, at it’s very nature is experimental. If you love to write in the 3rd person, write a few stories—or even scenes—in the first person. Try a genre you sometimes read, but never write. Try a dialogue only story.
I routinely find that if I’m stuck on one story, shaking things up by writing something new—something I never intend to polish and pursue—can get me unstuck in a hurry.
So that’s your assignment for this week. Write something in your Un-Comfort Zone.
One Response to “Un-Comfort Zone”
By Jodi on May 7, 2008
I did this recently Dale - I wrote a short story in the first person present tense … something I have never done. It turned out to be my very first piece of published work. So the theory does work. And I’ve played and explored some more with this first person view point … so perhaps back now to something third person and perhaps dual points of view? Who knows.
And I did my homework for last week - I got out the new fountain pen and christened it not once, twice but three times (two letters and one creative contract for the end of my go around the block with the Artist Way)
Thanks for continuing to inspire and push us beyond our accepted boundaries.