If it seems WRITE, is it?

I think that too often we, as writers, limit our thinking as to what we can and should be writing. Maybe you care to write poetry or short stories more than anything else. It could be that you would never consider writing a sales brochure in a million years. I would like to suggest that it is a valuable exercise to stretch your authoring muscles a bit and get out of your literary easy chair every once in a while.

As an author, I have written sales letters, technical reports, short stories, vignettes, poetry, song lyrics, novels, novellas, resumes, blogs, reviews and more. I submit that the more you get away from that comfort rut, the more you will begin to blossom as a writer. I do not think you will be immediately successful at whatever you try. None of us will be. But we may be shocked to find that we do like it and in fact are rather good at this new effort. It is, after all, just more communication, via the same method you have been using all along. The same tools, applied in another way. Just painting a different picture with a similar brush, if you will. How hard can that be?

Also, if one is to be honest, is it fair to call yourself a "Writer" if you are limited in what you write? Would you call yourself an Author, if you are only a poet? A Lyricist, if you only compose limericks? Believe me, I am not casting stones at these disciplines, by any means, but only wish to suggest that it might not be intellectually honest to paint ourselves with such broad titles if we have earned only a portion of them. For that reason, I encourage my readers to stand up from that tiny, restrictive pedestal you have perched yourself on, take a few unsure and frightening steps toward a new frontier and surprise yourself most pleasantly when you realize that it hasn't killed you, but made you stronger to attempt a new feat of bravery.

The truth is that you are what you choose to be, but you become that only by some small effort on your part. In good-natured manner, then, I challenge you to dare to have that new writing adventure this day, this week or this month. Don't put off what could be the start of a new career at best and a newfound confidence, at least. This mission is yours, if you choose to accept it. And let me know what happens, will you? Best wishes and have fun, Adventurers.