Writers--Change Can Be Difficult

Most of us find change difficult. Have you ever gone to a committee meeting and something new is proposed. Suddenly, someone sits straight up in his/her chair and says, "We've never done it that way before!" Add  a steely look in the eyes and mouth set firmly. Do I dare say that the odds are that the dissenter is an older person, well, maybe middle-aged to older. It seems that, the older we get, the harder it is to change. 

Our poster today says "If you change nothing, nothing will change." Wise words which we would we should give serious thought to. Maybe another way to say this would be that old adage Don't get stuck in a rut. 

As writers, we look for a comfort zone. If we have more fiction accepted than essays or non-fiction, we're likely to stay right where we are. Why knock success? But maybe a little change would be good for our writing life. You won't know unless you try it.

Think about your method of finding places where you want to submit your writing. Do you have a certain way that you make the search every time? Maybe you should try something different. You might find some new places that accept your kind of writing. If you don't find it beneficial, you can always go back to your old way. 

Look at the mechanics of your writing. Do you always, always use short choppy sentences? Do you use two or three adjectives? Do you use a lot of sentence fragments? All you have to do is try to put a few longer sentences into your writing. Try using one adjective for a stronger sentence. An occasional sentence fragment is acceptable, but not using them like pixie dust sprinkled throughout your story. These examples all require minor changes which can only make your writing stronger. 

Are you the writer who never attends writing groups, conferences, or workshops? There are many who do not, and it is by their choice. They feel they don't need that outside influence in their work. But what if you did attend an occasional workshop or conference? You might glean some good information and meet people who have the same interest you do. As for writing groups, if you visit one and don't like it, you never have to go back. If you join one and suddenly hate it, quit. 

The main thing here is to give change a try. If you do, nothing is set in cement. You are free to go back to what makes you comfortable. But don't be in a hurry to quit and head back to what makes you feel good. Give it a little time. It's quite possible that you will find change quite beneficial. Change can give us a fresh point of view and energize our writing.