Lately, something’s been bothering me about the blog I’ve managed for more than four years: the person I was when I started the blog is not the person I am today.
Or more precisely, the writer I was then is not the writer I am now. I’ve changed my mind on a lot of key issues. I’ve gained a lot more experience. I just feel…different.
The blog is still useful for a particular audience, but it no longer feels authentic to where I am in my writing journey.
Do I continue to invest time and energy in the blog when it’s not as personally fulfilling as it once was? Do I shut it down and give up a readership of thousands? Something in between?
Whatever I choose, change is the key word.
Change can be scary because it involves risk, but it can also be positive when it forces us to grow and write something better. Here are some ways in which changing my mind over the years has helped me grow as a writer:
Writing in different genres has helped me discover my strengths.
When I first started writing seriously, short stories were the last thing on my mind.
I spent at least the first year focusing on picture books. I became insanely interested in reading them, and I wrote and submitted tons of work to small publishing houses. But I saw little fruit for my labours, and eventually my zeal died down. I began looking for something more fulfilling.
For a year or so after that, I dabbled in longer forms—some middle-grade chapter books and a bunch of novel concepts that went nowhere. I had a great time, but they weren’t very good.
Then came a couple of solid years of working on mainstream novels. I wrote two of them, but something still didn’t quite feel right. I was on the right track, but not where I felt wholly comfortable.
Three years ago, I decided to try short fiction after all. The more literary short stories I read and wrote, the more I began to feel I’d found my strength. My stories started being published in journals and anthologies, which convinced me I was on the right track. Now, I see myself as working toward publishing either a collection of short stories or a novel written in short stories (like Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad or Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge.)
It’s okay to change your mind about what you want to write, or what style you want to write in. Experimentation is key to finding out what you’re best at. And just because you enjoy writing in a certain style or genre doesn’t mean that’s the style or genre in which you’re going to be most successful.
Trying different writing processes has helped me find what works for me.
For many years I was an outliner/planner, mostly because when I didn’t outline, I inevitably got lost in my story and became so frustrated that I’d give up. It was only after experimenting with writing organically that I came to understand its benefits (especially if you’re writing in shorter forms). I don’t usually dive into a story wholly unprepared, but I allow myself to wander and go through many rewrites. I embrace pre-writing more; I’m less focused on what will make it into the final draft and more focused on ensuring I know my story as well as I can.
I also used to write exclusively on my computer, but now I write by hand in the exploratory stages. I’m less locked in to a particular process and more willing to let the process naturally fit the individual piece.
If you’re a plotter, try pantsing a short piece of writing for a change (that is, try writing without an outline). If you always type your stories, give hand-writing a go. Mix things up once in a while, and you might find some previously untried process works better for you, or for a particular piece you’re working on.
Changing my definition of success has helped me embrace the journey.
New writers always have a clear—and usually unrealistic—picture of what success looks like. Early in my writing career, I thought success would mean nothing less than publishing a novel with a major publishing house. That was before I had done much writing, of course.
Over the years, my definition of success has evolved. I now recognize that small victories along the way are just as important as big ones. Getting a story published in a literary journal or having someone approach you for a paid writing gig—these things are both encouraging and help you work toward your larger writing goals.
Although I’d love to one day sell a novel to a big-name publisher, I’d be just as happy to put out a collection of short stories with a respected small press. In both situations, I’d be pursuing a passion and seeing my work in print.
Don’t be so focused on achieving your big writing dreams that you miss out on the joys of the process. After all, writing is something we do because we love doing it.
Changing your mind isn’t always a bad thing, even if it means moving in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar direction. Change is evidence of your growth as a writer, and who doesn’t want to get better at something they love doing?
What changes of mind have you made that ultimately led to your significant growth as a writer?
Photo courtesy of Airik Lopez via Flickr Creative Commons
About Suzannah Windsor Freeman
Suzannah Windsor Freeman is a Canadian freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in The Writer, Sou'wester, Grist, Saw Palm, Anderbo, The Best of the Sand Hill Review, and others. She is the managing editor of Compose: A Journal of Simply Good Writing and Writeitsideways.com. She lives in Ontario with her husband and four children.
Oh gee, what a refreshing post. Experimenting in a new genre is not only scary but challenging and I tend to shy away. One thing I tried, like you did, was to move away from the computer for my first drafts and use a fountain pen and paper. Something about the flow of the ink, that old-fashioned tip and sweep on the page. I actually liked it creatively. It certainly does slow you down which adds more time for thinking and connecting. And you’re right about short stories. 2013 is declared The Year of the Short Story and I’m seeing more press and chat about “shorties.” Thank you, Susannah.
A truly wonderful post. It’s so easy to become stuck. Lately, each Saturday, my followers never know what they’re going to get. Actually, quite often, on Friday night I don’t know what they’re going to get. Sometimes it’s poetry or a short story or a wild experiment on my part. Sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s sad. And sometimes they fall flat and people wonder, “Huh?” but they keep me fresh and force me to stretch myself. It keeps me sane and I learn more about Christina the writer. Who knows, one day one of my little experiments may send my writing dreams off in an entirely new direction.
I enjoyed reading your post. It’s completely different than any I’ve read before and your suggestions ring true. I am a solid pantser though several years ago I did start using an outline (of sorts) but let myself wander away from it to make the story better. I’ve not written outside the women’s fiction genre nor have I ever written a short story. Interesting idea. Thank you.
Thanks for validating my inclination to bounce from one genre to another. I find that poetry helps me make richer word choices. Biography helps me get out of my own skin and into another’s head. Short story helps me focus on plot. And novel, well, I’m still climbing that mountain.
Starting a blog has been very freeing.
I find it easy, once I have a topic, to pour out 500-2000 words on it, edit, format, pick a title, and getting it out there.
I don’t have a huge number of readers, and I only have a small contingent of followers, but the process liberates all kinds of material from my mind that wouldn’t get expression otherwise.
So, as a WRITER, blogging has been wonderful. I think of it as my own personal online magazine – with free fiction, and a free serialized novel, and other subjects I’m interested in – which always accepts my articles and stories, publishes them, and wants more.
I love having an outlet – and it has been very good for my writing.
Alicia
Thanks for sharing your writing journey. It shows your grit and determination. I am sometimes amazed at what it takes to be a writer. I feel I’ve been at it forever but have little to show for the time and effort I’ve put in. Unpublished novels, short stories, picture books, play and three unproduced screenplays. But am I giving up? No. I love the process and remain optimistic. Wishing you the best as well. Nice to hear you’ve found your niche.
Really loved this post! Writing is indeed a journey with many twists and turns in the road – brief stopovers. Sometimes I feel lost and ready to unpack my suitcase and settle in one spot but then I hear of a new attraction down the road and I keep going.
My imagination takes me in many directions. Sometimes that’s confusing and I wonder if I’ll ever get THERE.
Thanks, Suzannah, for reminding me to embrace the journey.
Very interesting post. I’ve been writing short stories for some years – starting with a vague idea of where I’m heading but making most of it up as I go along and then moulding the thing into shape during re-edits. But I’m finding writing a novel much harder. Been trying out new techniques – just as you suggest. Been writing first in longhand and then typing up, for example.
Anyway, interesting to hear you’ve got interested in short stories – a very underrated format and one that seems to be making a comeback. It would be fantastic to get a collection published, wouldn’t it? Best wishes.
My blog changes all the time – because I change all the time. For me, my blog is a creative outlet – I don’t try to write for an audience – I just write stuff to entertain myself – sometimes that’s a traditional blog, sometimes it’s fiction, sometimes it’s opinion written as fiction – if people want to read whatever I’m writing, then that’s cool. If not, that’s fine too…
Personally, I think people get hung-up on “the rules of blogging”… my favourite blog saying is “Blogging: There Are No Rules!” – I just post things on my blog because I like to share “the stuff that comes out of my head” – no more, no less.
@Paula, Christina, Patricia, Louise, ABE, Phyllis, Ruth and John:
Thanks so much to you all for your comments so far! It’s great to see that you’re all embracing experimentation with your writing and learning what works best for you. As John James said in his comment, “There are no rules.”
I really enjoyed this post; it resonates so. Before getting published, I tried out several genres, until I found my ‘natural’ writing voice, which turned out to be YA. For now. But I’m still not done experimenting. Like you, I used to draft on computer, yet for my current WIP, I’m finding longhand brings me closer to the story (bonus–no distracting internet). And now I’d love to develop a number of picture book ideas. Moving from one story form/genre/writing style to another is like cleansing the mental palate. So, pass the lime sorbet!
Thank you for a great post. It just goes to show that change can be a lot of different things – and I think especially your last point; that it’s okay to redefine success is a healthy reminder for a lot of us!
I’m grateful that I eventually redefined “a writer” from “someone who is published” to “someone who writes”. It seems basic now but at the time, it was a whole new way of accepting my need to write :)
Changing genres can really pay off. I wrote a bunch of novels, a couple came close to being picked up but it wasn’t until I wrote a non-fiction book about writing a novel with a famous thriller writer that it broke open for me. Now both the non-fiction book, “Writing With The Master” and the novel I wrote with him are being published. I’m still pinching myself to make sure it’s real. But it wouldn’t have happened had I not had the idea to give it a try.
I LOVED this and it was just what I needed to read on August 31st! I even copied down the two sentences that held so much meaning for me that particular day:
“Don’t be so focused on achieving your big writing dreams that you miss out on the joys of the process. After all, writing is something we do because we love doing it.”
May I post that at the top of my blog, showing you as the author, of course?
Thank you for a fantastic article.!
Becky, of course you can repost the quotation! I’d be honoured. I’m so glad you found this inspiring, and all the best with your writing.
Thank you, Suzannah!
It’s good to read and try writing different genres to evolve your writing. I primary read and write fantasy, but reading different genres, such as historical and even romance, has made my writing stronger.
When I first started writing, I never thought I would be writing blog posts. That has also improved my writing.