Write out of your comfort zone

We settle into comfort zones in all walks of life, and writing’s no different.

It’s good to stretch ourselves sometimes and try out different things - especially when we recognise the ‘edges’ that we hit up against - the internal voices that say “oh but I can’t do that” “I don’t know how to do that” “I’m not clever enough, witty enough, smart enough… [substitute favourite form of self-doubt] to do that”. That’s normally the signal that we’re up at the edges of our comfort zone.

Moving past them takes some courage, but whenever we do it’s a great boost for our experience, energy, creativity, learning and confidence.

I’ve been stretching myself recently with some new formats (like podcasting and the e-book) and guest authoring for other blog sites. I’m a real fan of guest writing. Having three guest authors here last month was like - well I think having different voices is a way of adding oxygen (breath, life) into a blog.

Writing elsewhere is utterly terrifying to begin with - because you come up with all those old fears about not being able to produce something that’s valuable enough for the person that you’re writing for. But each time I’ve done it I’ve been proud of the end result, the stretch that it took, the confidence that flows from it - and most of all the sense of connection that comes from sharing your words with another author.

My most recent adventure has taken me out of my comfort zone and into the Middle Zone - and telling the story of finding the right words to get there.

I like the idea of moving from my comfort zone into the middle zone - a place where unexpected things can happen; where words, ideas, pictures and humour abound; where you don’t have to take yourself too seriously; where new conversations can start - because it’s a state I know I’m going to want to keep on writing myself into. And the more you do it, the more you know you can.

Which is not a bad description of confidence either.

It takes courage to get there, but the more you do it, the more you know you can.

My Middle Zone piece is called When You’re Stuck for a Story - why not check it out - and enjoy spending some time in the Middle Zone while you’re there…

Yvonne Russell is encouraging writers to S-T-R-E-T-C-H out of their comfort zones (and share what happens) - you can call by and leave her a comment or wait for the writers’ cafe at the weekend

If you want to add some oxygen to the conversation let me know if you’d like to guest write here (this month we’re on writing with clarity, next month on connection) or if you’d be interested in me writing a guest post at your site. Just e-mail me at joanna@confidentwriting.com and we’ll take it from there.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Tags: coach, comfort zone, confidence, courage, write, writing