Trying something new is not easy. It's weird. It's fun. It's a little intimidating.
I'm trying something new, trying to write a magazine piece. The magazine dictates the topic, the age level, and the word count. Heck! It should be easy then, right?
Well, it's not. I am having fun with the research (something I usually have so much fun with it'd be easy to just keep on researching and forget the writing part). But I am getting ready to write an outline. (I hate outlines. I've hated them since I was in Junior High and had to write one for a History paper.) But the magazine wants me to submit an outline, not a completed article. So, not only is it new that I'm writing a magazine piece, but I'm also writing an outline. How much new do I have to suffer through??
In truth, I've been doing a lot new lately. Not only am I challenging my writing-self, I've been challenging my computer-self. I've been learning a lot about blogging and commenting, and trying to become an active member of some of our favorite sites, versus being a "lurker". And, on a personal level, I'm learning how to be a retired stay-at-home-mother. New things/changes in our lives can be difficult and scary, but they can be rewarding and enriching.
So, I'm wondering...
When was the last time you tried something new?
How much did it scare you?
Were you good at it?
How long did it take before the newness wore off?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Trying Something New
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New is good. It helps stretch our boundaries and sometimes opens directions where our talents can shine. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteGreat news that Meg's writing a magazine article! You all know where I stand on the subject of magazines - wrote about it in a previous post.
ReplyDeleteAs for new. Yes, it can be frustrating, but new is also an excellent way to cure the writing blues. That's why I always have a couple of projects going at once. Hit a rough spot in one and it's a blessing to shift gears and work on something else for a while.
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ReplyDeleteChange is the only constant in life so the earlier we learn to embrace it, the better. Easy? Heck no, but the growth potential is through the roof.
ReplyDeleteMy something new is exploring this new place I call home. Some days I'm up for the challenge, other days I just want to crawl into my shell. But I always feel better when I go out of my way to go out of my comfort zone.
With writing, I'm in a comfortable place doing revision but I can already feel those urges to take on a new project. Newness is always scary and frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.
Write on.
Hmm. The last "new" thing I tried was going to a high school reunion--not saying which one--for the first time in my life. I was terrified but I pushed myself to do it and actually had a great time--the wine helped. Best of all, now that I got that out of my system, I never have to go to another reunion again! Phew.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new maggie venture, Meg. Your life has been full of new things lately, hasn't it?
Variety is the spice of life. New is good, even though it's sometimes scary.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the magazine challenge, Meg! Stretching out of the comfort zone is scary and exciting!
ReplyDeleteAs for new, I just got a new challenge today. An editor asked if I'd ever considered writing a rhyming picture manuscript as prose. I am excited by the idea... but don't have any idea yet where to begin. I know it will take a while, but I'm putting my mind to work on it! :o)
Great news, Brianna. Of course, when I started writing it was in rhyme (what else?) Penny Pollack encouraged me to take it out of rhyme and I did. It opened a whole new world! Now I'd no sooner write in rhyme than I'd write in Greek.
ReplyDeleteGood news, Brianna! It means the editor liked your idea and is just suggesting a different format.
ReplyDeleteIs this about a certain dinosaur story?
Brianna, i love good news!
ReplyDeleteAnd Meg -- as far as starting something new -- I'm gearing up for November 1!
Good luck with the magazine article. I'm thinking of heading in that direction someday soon...
Thanks for the congrats guys! It is wonderful to have fellow writers who understand how encouraging and exciting a handwritten note from an editor is! (And yes, Gale, it is a certain dinosaur story!)
ReplyDeleteNow between revising this picture book and revising my poetry collection, I've got plenty new to do... as if being three months away from a new baby wasn't new enough! :o)
I pretend to like change because I don't want to miss out on learning something new, but I would be okay with things staying the same...grin...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with NaNo...
Lilfix (blueboards)
Yes, Brenda, sometimes I just pretend to like the change....
ReplyDelete