Comfort zones have that name for a reason. They're a safe place. Here, we know our routine and have nothing to be scared of because nothing could possibly surprise us. Comfort zones can be great. They can also hinder us from being better.
I've found my comfort zone in writing. And if you've read any of my stories that I've posted on this blog, you can probably see them too. It's only recently (when I was re-reading some of these stories) that I REALIZED I had a writing comfort zone.
And that worries me. Tim Gunn understands.
What do I mean by writing comfort zone? A writing comfort zone the stuff you know you can write well (or at least, decently well) and therefore it's what you primarily stick to.
Certain genres you like to write in? Certain types of characters that appeal to you more than others? Certain tropes that you enjoy? Certain ways to end a story? Begin a story? Dialogue? Description? The list goes on and on...
The overwhelming problem with writing comfort zones is that after a while, everything you write begins to sound the SAME.
Here are two examples that I (unfortunately) noticed in some stories that I've posted:
1: Marital engagements for an ending.
Okay, this one maybe makes sense. All comedies end with a wedding, right? Well, that would be fine, if I didn't end two of my stories in almost the exact same way.
2: I've been in love with you forever, I just didn't realize it until recently.
I'm kind of throwing up in my mouth thinking about this one. This is SO cliche. And not to mention kind of annoying to read. And I've done it AT LEAST twice. And I think it's because us single ladies all fantasize about that boy we've been crushing on to finally realize how much they're madly in love with us (reality check: probably never going to happen. We should all move on).
*the next few lines contain spoilers* (Just go read all the stories)
A Journey Between Friends: Mason and Sofia have been besties since middle school. They also both realize independently (and slowly) how nuts they are for each other.
Coffee & Contempt: Simon has always treated Danielle poorly, but could it possibly be because he's been in love with her without understanding his feelings? (*spoilers: yes, it's that*)
Okay, so this one is at least a little more creative than the first one. There are two different scenarios and in no way to repeat exact sentences (that I'm aware of anyway).
But still, I have a problem with the fact that with as few stories as I've posted, I've used this trope twice. Why does this bother me so much? Because it makes all of my stories sound the same. The same endings. The same love interest scenarios. The same characters making the same stupid choices. Motivated by the same things. Acting the same way.
That gets boring. Not only for the reader, but for the writer (aka me) as well.
via GIPHY
Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with using the same tropes and styles in different stories. They exist for a reason - they're entertaining and MEANT to be used. The struggle for me, on the other hand, is to not DEPEND on these tropes. To not use the same ones over and over again.
I need diversity in my writing style.
That's easier said than done. Since this is my writing comfort zone, I need to take risks. I need to do things that are NOT normally things I would write.
So HOW do you diversify your writing? Here are some examples of different areas any writer can explore:
Write in different genres. When I write, there are a couple of genres I end up in. First, when I write short stories, I'm usually working on a contemporary romance or a science fiction piece. Second, when I write novels, I LOVE Fantasy. Don't ask me why the two don't coincide. I can't figure it out yet. But I should try other genres and I should try and switch up my short story/novel formulas. Why can't I write a short fantasy??? Or a long Scifi (Does Pigrann count?)
different voice/narrators. This one's hard to explain, but it can be as simple as writing with a male narrator instead of a female narrator (or vice versa). They're going to sound different because men and women think in different ways! Voice is something that you master over time - we know I haven't mastered it yet - so keep at it and try new things. Might I suggest using an unreliable narrator? They're ALWAYS fun :) :) :)
1st/3rd person. I automatically start writing a story in 1st person. I think I have a strong voice in first person and I always want to tell that person's story. However, not all stories are meant to be told in 1st and sometimes, even if you've already written it in one type, the story is better served in the other. I know when I reach this point, I have to FORCE MYSELF to write in 3rd. And even then, I always catch "I's" and "my's" popping in as my brain automatically wants to go back to 1st.
close and distant POVs. I LOVE close POVs. I like being in 3rd person, but still being in the character's head and knowing all their thoughts. It's probably why I like 1st person so much. Distant POV is more like a movie. We can see what the character sees, hear what the character hears, but we're not in their head. The narrator is a separate entity from the characters.
Don't use the same ole characters! Yup, I'm guilty of this one. There are certain characteristics that we, as individuals, are all attracted to. Strong central female protagonists. Broody bad boy love interests. Loyal best friend. These characters have emerged as their own tropes in some ways (and some of them cliches). Try and imagine different characters. A main character that you wouldn't want to be best friends with? A bad boy that really is the bad boy and not a love interest? Be creative!
Have any more suggestions? Leave them in the comments!
WHY should you do this? The simple answer is to improve your writing. If we practice this every day, we'll not only become a better writer, but we'll also explore other areas of our creative brain that we normally wouldn't explore :)
Application - what does this mean for me? I'm actually going to do this. Writing romance-y short stories with young narrators is SO EASY for me. I need to do something challenging (including continuing my Pigrann series).
My challenge to myself is to not post another love story for the rest of the year (if I'm going to be honest, one or two might sneak in)
My challenge to you: try writing every day with a new topic. I'm not saying to write an entire story every day. I'm just saying to write every day for 10-20 minutes in a way that challenges you.
Need some inspiration? Check out my Prompts Board or my Inspiration Board on Pinterest!
Thanks for reading and let me know what ways challenge you!!!!!
I've found my comfort zone in writing. And if you've read any of my stories that I've posted on this blog, you can probably see them too. It's only recently (when I was re-reading some of these stories) that I REALIZED I had a writing comfort zone.
And that worries me. Tim Gunn understands.
What do I mean by writing comfort zone? A writing comfort zone the stuff you know you can write well (or at least, decently well) and therefore it's what you primarily stick to.
Certain genres you like to write in? Certain types of characters that appeal to you more than others? Certain tropes that you enjoy? Certain ways to end a story? Begin a story? Dialogue? Description? The list goes on and on...
The overwhelming problem with writing comfort zones is that after a while, everything you write begins to sound the SAME.
Here are two examples that I (unfortunately) noticed in some stories that I've posted:
1: Marital engagements for an ending.
Okay, this one maybe makes sense. All comedies end with a wedding, right? Well, that would be fine, if I didn't end two of my stories in almost the exact same way.
A Journey Between Friends: "I let him slide the ring onto my finger. About a year later, I let him do it again."
Celebrity Crush: "Seven months later, he put the ring on my finger again. A short six months after that, he added a band to it."
Those are legitimately the last words of both of those stories.
And it's practically the same ending for two completely different stories. Anyone else reading this would think I was lazy or not creative enough to come up with a second ending.
And it's practically the same ending for two completely different stories. Anyone else reading this would think I was lazy or not creative enough to come up with a second ending.
2: I've been in love with you forever, I just didn't realize it until recently.
I'm kind of throwing up in my mouth thinking about this one. This is SO cliche. And not to mention kind of annoying to read. And I've done it AT LEAST twice. And I think it's because us single ladies all fantasize about that boy we've been crushing on to finally realize how much they're madly in love with us (reality check: probably never going to happen. We should all move on).
*the next few lines contain spoilers* (Just go read all the stories)
A Journey Between Friends: Mason and Sofia have been besties since middle school. They also both realize independently (and slowly) how nuts they are for each other.
Coffee & Contempt: Simon has always treated Danielle poorly, but could it possibly be because he's been in love with her without understanding his feelings? (*spoilers: yes, it's that*)
Okay, so this one is at least a little more creative than the first one. There are two different scenarios and in no way to repeat exact sentences (that I'm aware of anyway).
But still, I have a problem with the fact that with as few stories as I've posted, I've used this trope twice. Why does this bother me so much? Because it makes all of my stories sound the same. The same endings. The same love interest scenarios. The same characters making the same stupid choices. Motivated by the same things. Acting the same way.
That gets boring. Not only for the reader, but for the writer (aka me) as well.
via GIPHY
Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with using the same tropes and styles in different stories. They exist for a reason - they're entertaining and MEANT to be used. The struggle for me, on the other hand, is to not DEPEND on these tropes. To not use the same ones over and over again.
I need diversity in my writing style.
That's easier said than done. Since this is my writing comfort zone, I need to take risks. I need to do things that are NOT normally things I would write.
So HOW do you diversify your writing? Here are some examples of different areas any writer can explore:
Write in different genres. When I write, there are a couple of genres I end up in. First, when I write short stories, I'm usually working on a contemporary romance or a science fiction piece. Second, when I write novels, I LOVE Fantasy. Don't ask me why the two don't coincide. I can't figure it out yet. But I should try other genres and I should try and switch up my short story/novel formulas. Why can't I write a short fantasy??? Or a long Scifi (Does Pigrann count?)
different voice/narrators. This one's hard to explain, but it can be as simple as writing with a male narrator instead of a female narrator (or vice versa). They're going to sound different because men and women think in different ways! Voice is something that you master over time - we know I haven't mastered it yet - so keep at it and try new things. Might I suggest using an unreliable narrator? They're ALWAYS fun :) :) :)
1st/3rd person. I automatically start writing a story in 1st person. I think I have a strong voice in first person and I always want to tell that person's story. However, not all stories are meant to be told in 1st and sometimes, even if you've already written it in one type, the story is better served in the other. I know when I reach this point, I have to FORCE MYSELF to write in 3rd. And even then, I always catch "I's" and "my's" popping in as my brain automatically wants to go back to 1st.
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| Photo Credit: Unsplash, Stefanus Martano Setyo Husodo |
Don't use the same ole characters! Yup, I'm guilty of this one. There are certain characteristics that we, as individuals, are all attracted to. Strong central female protagonists. Broody bad boy love interests. Loyal best friend. These characters have emerged as their own tropes in some ways (and some of them cliches). Try and imagine different characters. A main character that you wouldn't want to be best friends with? A bad boy that really is the bad boy and not a love interest? Be creative!
Have any more suggestions? Leave them in the comments!
WHY should you do this? The simple answer is to improve your writing. If we practice this every day, we'll not only become a better writer, but we'll also explore other areas of our creative brain that we normally wouldn't explore :)
Application - what does this mean for me? I'm actually going to do this. Writing romance-y short stories with young narrators is SO EASY for me. I need to do something challenging (including continuing my Pigrann series).
My challenge to myself is to not post another love story for the rest of the year (if I'm going to be honest, one or two might sneak in)
My challenge to you: try writing every day with a new topic. I'm not saying to write an entire story every day. I'm just saying to write every day for 10-20 minutes in a way that challenges you.
Need some inspiration? Check out my Prompts Board or my Inspiration Board on Pinterest!
Thanks for reading and let me know what ways challenge you!!!!!
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