A Different Approach

By Morgan Chilson

As a freelance writer, I spend most of my time working on stories for newspapers and newsletters. In my personal life, I scribble, swear and sigh at a work of fiction that I’m quite sure will not earn me a Pulitzer someday.

Recently, I wrote a short story – one page – for my church newsletter. It was about something called breath prayers and was churned out in fewer than 20 minutes. Yet, I am inordinately pleased with this work. It’s not fantastic writing, but it’s a subject that’s important to me.

It was a different kind of writing than what I normally do. More personal. A little more revealing. I was in the story, which is something I never do as a journalist.

What I was reminded of is how easy it is to settle into one style of writing and what a mistake that is for our careers as authors. That’s not to say you won’t be published as a historical romance writer and stay in that genre your entire career. But when you take an hour and do a writing exercise that pushes you outside your constricting box, you’ll open up to new words, thoughts, and ways of approaching your writing.

The coolest thing about being a writer, and I’ve been a journalist for 23 years, is that there’s always more to learn – more ways to shove all those disturbing, intriguing, crazy, silly thoughts inside your head onto a piece of paper. And exploring different journeys to the end product is the fun of this writing world. Everything we do every day – whether we skydive or clean a toilet – gives us smells, sights and oooohh, material for our work.

So don’t consider it time wasted if you churn out a church story or (hint, hint) a blog for your writing group. Know that any time spent writing, searching for cohesion in the 26 letters of the alphabet, makes you more of a writer.