Image courtesy of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards site.
People say to write about what you know... I'm here to tell you, no one wants to read that, 'cause you don't know anything... So write about something you don't know. And don't be scared, ever. ~ Toni Morrison, USA Today
We find comfort in writing about the things we are most comfortable with—those things we find most familiar. While there's nothing wrong with it, one has to wonder—where's the challenge? Where's the risk? In the long term, what's the growth potential for you as a writer? What will the audience truly learn or gain from you in the process?
It's so easy to get caught up into the formulas for writing, especially if they've brought you a fair amount of success. It's safer that way, isn't it? But as creative individuals—we thrive when we're challenged. We thrive when we're put to the test. We thrive when we let go of our inhibitions, take on the unknown, and, without over-thinking, simply create that which fuels our souls.
You learn more about yourself, others, and the world when you step outside of the realm you call home. Get unsafe. Move beyond the known. Embrace the unknown. Be inspired by the unknown. There's no telling what magnificence may come about.
It's so easy to get caught up into the formulas for writing, especially if they've brought you a fair amount of success. It's safer that way, isn't it? But as creative individuals—we thrive when we're challenged. We thrive when we're put to the test. We thrive when we let go of our inhibitions, take on the unknown, and, without over-thinking, simply create that which fuels our souls.
You learn more about yourself, others, and the world when you step outside of the realm you call home. Get unsafe. Move beyond the known. Embrace the unknown. Be inspired by the unknown. There's no telling what magnificence may come about.
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