creative writing

A guest post from freelance writer and artist Deborah Lyn Stanley

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  ~ Mark Twain

Is it time for you to sail away from your safe harbored comfort zone and launch out into exciting territory?

Are you primed for quest and discovery?

I was.

The trade winds took me from technical writing to a wonderful place called Creative Nonfiction.

It’s a journey full of newness, labor, and stormy seas, but it’s wonderful when I catch the trade winds in my sails.

I’m glad I ventured out from my comfort zone—you will be, too!

It serves us well to re-evaluate our goals every few months.

Change or discard things that aren’t working.

Realign your plan according to what is most important and keep moving forward.

Disinterest and boredom are one side of the coin. Moving forward effectively is the flip side.

What can we do each day to step forward in our goals?

• Write every day, even just a bit.
• Journal ideas to explore for writing an article, an essay or a story.
• Investigate new ideas for your business, your website or your blog. When you land on an idea you like, consider
writing a series of pieces.
• Set goals spanning different lengths of time. Break goals into doable steps, and add a dream or two for inspiration.
• Read inspiring books:
• Novels – in your genre or one new to you,
• Non-fiction – biographies or writer’s anthologies about their writing practice and brainstorming strategies,
• Articles – make topic lists of ones you are interested in and ones you want to research.
• Enjoy the discoveries you make and consider how you will enhance your writing practice.
• What have you always wanted to do but held back waiting for the right time? Consider the small steps you could take to
make that dream doable.

Have you sailed away from your safe harbor?

Don’t be disappointed; catch the trade winds in your sails.

I applaud you and your endeavors!

Please share your sailing journey in the comment section, below.

Thank you much!

Deborah Lyn

About Deborah Lyn Stanley
Deborah Lyn Stanley writes a variety of creative nonfiction, including articles, essays, and stories.