It's all About Change by Wendy H. Jones
As writers we often write the same types of books or find ourselves sticking to flash fiction or short stories. They say, write what you know about and that's good advice but not always the best advice. Trying different things can make us better writers. And yet it's scary. Habits become habits because we are used to them, because we know exactly what we are doing and we don't need to think about things too much. Our writing flows more quickly, our thoughts are clearer and the narrative leaps from the keyboard (or pen) and our day can pass in a pleasant whirl. Or so we think at least. Knowing our characters, our genre, our story form, makes life much more simple.
However, and this is a big however, both the world and the people in it, change. Recently, in a group I am a part of, many readers were saying they are completely bored with one American author's work. This author is a household name, having gained that following throughout one series yet readers are moving away from this series. The author has nothing to fall back on. A willingness to change can prevent this happening.
I write crime books and started out with gritty crime. In order to keep things fresh I branched out into humorous crime and also young adult mysteries and children's picture books. I have now been asked to take on another project which I have accepted. This involves a completely new departure for me as it is narrative non-fiction. Am I nervous? You can bet your granny on that. Am I excited, absolutely. It's what keeps things interesting. It's what excites me as a writer, that there is so much to write about and I am learning all the time. I can't wait to get started.
Recently, I have also started a podcast called The Writing and Marketing Show which is aimed at helping writers to be both better writers and better at marketing their work. I've listened to many Podcasts and have wanted to do one for a couple of years. I was propelled into this by being asked to run a workshop on podcasting for writers. I've discovered that now I've stepped into this whole new territory, I love it. I would never have found this out if I hadn't stepped outside my comfort zone.
My plea to you today is to step outside your comfort zone. Be willing to change. Be willing to try new things. God made you a multi-faceted person, embrace that and run with it. Spread your wings and I know you will soar.
About the Author
Wendy H Jones is the Amazon Number 1 best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers Choice Award. She is also The President of the Scottish Association of Writers, the Webmaster for the Association of Christian Writers, an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, motivation and marketing. Wendy is the founder of Crime at the Castle, Scotland’s newest Crime Festival. She is the editor of a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers and also the editor of the forthcoming Christmas Anthology form the same publisher. Her first children's book, Bertie the Buffalo, was released in December 2018. Motivation Matters: Revolutionise Your Writing One Creative Step at a Time, was released in May 2019.
Amazon Author Page
I like writing in all kinds of different genres, too. At first, though, I found it hard to define what kind of writer I was. Comic? Serious? Poet? Fiction writer? Then, a mentor told me not to define myself at all, just to turn my hand to whatever I was doing at the time and call myself 'a writer'. That was very freeing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fran. I like the way you look a this, as freeing. It certainly is.
DeleteThat is very freeing. I love it. Thank you Wendy
ReplyDeleteGlad it helped and helped to free your creativity
DeleteI’ve been writing non-fiction but that will change this summer as I attempt my first novel. I’m longing to make a podcast !
ReplyDeleteKathleen, if you wan to chat about podcasting, contact me.
DeleteThis is so true. We think we are going to do one kind of writing and then after a while lots of other opportunities open up. It's great to embrace them where we can. Thank you for this Wendy.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, going with your creativity is so exciting
DeleteLove it! I've only been writing for such a short time, but it's tempting to say, "I write these kind of book." Fortunately all my writing attempts have been different... Thank you for this encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy. I agree with this: I thought of myself as a novelist and now I am about to bring out a highly illustrated non fiction book combining history and paranormal tales. I've enjoyed researching for it too!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing. I wish you the best with your new venture
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