Explore Your Writing World
The beginning of something new is exciting, but it can also be uncomfortable. What is uncomfortable in one’s writing life is unique to every person, but what everyone’s project has in common is the new and unknown.
This could be writing a novel, trying a new genre, publishing your first book, starting a blog, or connecting with writers on social media. Whatever it is, traveling in new terrain is uncomfortable.
If it was possible to stay in our comfort zones forever, I would. I don’t like insecurity or risk. I like sure things—things I can trust and know how to handle. But to build a writing life we can’t stay in our writing comfort zones. To grow we must extend our reach to new horizons. New challenges make us better writers, and better people.
So let’s start with one of my favorite forms of inspiration: a quote.
Widely attributed to Eleanore Roosevelt, today’s quote says,
Taking the Challenge
When I first came across this quote, I had two reactions.
- This sounds scary. I think if I tried I would fail.
- Wouldn’t you run out of scary things to do? (But it was more like, “Wouldn’t I run out of the tiny, scary things I could handle?”)
This quote kept popping up around me, though, and eventually I came to appreciate its challenge.
Fear is a bully sometimes, and I often let it rule my life. Therefore, my first reaction to this quote was I would encounter immediate failure. But then I realized this was the first challenge of the quote: acknowledging the fear, and deciding to follow the advice anyway.
To answer my second reaction, there will always be something scary you can do. I would like to challenge anyone who thinks different to run out of scary things to do. If they succeed, they have my respect.
But big or small, there is always a scary thing you can do today to stretch your boundaries. For me, that was sitting down and writing this blogpost. In the tomorrows to come it will be publishing my first novel.
No matter the size, pace your growth by one step a day. Each step gets you a little closer to making the new terrain more comfortable to travel.
Keep Fighting the Scary
I admit fear has won many battles against me, but the battle that counts is the one after the defeat. Will you rise up and fight the next?
It’s alright to have fear. It’s what you do despite the fear that defines you.
Never stop exploring your writing world, whether it be in writing the story close to your heart or connecting with writers and followers. Be proud with every step you take—big or small—and celebrate your victories.
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S.J. Siedenburg is a thriller & fantasy novelist, an editor, and a bibliophile with a passion for stories and helping writers finish their novels. She’s the author of the guidebooks Character Presentation, Before the First Draft, and the How to Write a Novel online course. Six of her short stories have been published through writing contests. Sarah lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” —John 1:5