Changing Perspective
Writing prompts to push you out of your comfort zone
The Growth Mindset
Success as a writer is not about how many books you sell, or how many articles you’ve had published or how many awards you have won. That way of thinking imagines the pinnacle of being a writer as an end point that can be reached. There is no end point. There are goals you can set yourself, but unless you intend on giving up writing when you meet those goals, you will need to move forward from them. In an earlier post I talked about how, as writers we are always in a state of change, because we are human animals ageing, and accumulating more experiences. You can read it here:
Acknowledging Change
Hello Readers and welcome to the first Notes from the Margin paid subscriber post. We are sitting in a place of seasonal change in the northern hemisphere right now. I am watching the leaves begin to change on a daily basis, I find myself touching the acorns in their cups, the yellowing leaves of the willow, the seed heads and rose hips that line the hedges. I am noticing the way that the light is changing, how the air feels different, as though the world is turning over in bed and sleep is imminent. Even the clothes that people are wearing are changing: less shorts, more trousers, more hoodies, less T-shirts. Soon I will be forced to abandon my sandals and wear socks again. A sad day. I’m noticing, also, how these external changes are affecting me, my mood, my creativity; how I am starting to think about the colours I’ll wear in the autumn, the cosy meals I’ll cook. My mind keeps returning to an image of myself wearing long boots and jeans, crunching through woodland with the dog and just the
This is why to think of becoming a successful writer as something akin to reaching the peak of a mountain can be damaging to your success, and to your sense of self as a writer. To be successful is to be always growing, always seeking enrichment and as you reach your goals, to set further goals based around what will make you happy as a person as well as a writer, what will grow your writing.
I imagine that you, like me, and all other writers, have habits that you are attached to with your writing. I imagine that sometimes you look at what other people produce and see their bold decisions around subject, line breaks, or use of white space, or punctuation or titles or style and wonder why you are being left behind. Be reassured, you are not being left behind. Difference is not the same as less than. You should always write what makes you happy, the creative impulse is crushed by pretending to be something you are not. Your voice is valid. An authentic voice is the core of your own ‘poetry voice’.
But…growth does not occur simply by thinking about it. Growth occurs by pushing out of your habits, pushing away from your comfort zone and making a conscious effort to disrupt your work. In order to meet your goals and get past them, you need to recognise the power of growth. Growth is not always a comfortable experience, in fact it shouldn’t be. Growth comes from challenge. Here are some prompts to help you push away from the habits you find yourself in, push your boundaries and grow your writing.