{"id":387,"date":"2017-09-20T11:46:07","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T15:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=387"},"modified":"2021-03-24T15:34:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T19:34:41","slug":"writing-outside-comfort-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/writing-outside-comfort-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a “typical” genre or style I write it, although I certainly prefer first person. What I will say, is that I feel as though the story I’ve been working on recently is outside of my comfort zone, and it’s been a good thing to try.<\/p>\n

My publisher, Burning Willow Press<\/a>, has an ongoing anthology series, Crossroads in the Dark. Volume 1: Anthology of Morality<\/a> and Volume 2: Urban Legends<\/a> are already available. Volume 3: Monsters Under Your Bed is due out on September 30. Volume 4 is in progress, and I decided to try writing for it.<\/p>\n

\"Zombie<\/a>I struggled for a while to figure out what to write. I based my first attempt on this tumblr post that popped up on my Facebook feed ages ago.<\/p>\n

It didn’t go well. With about 300 words written, realized I didn’t like what I was writing. Determined to make it work, I outlined a few different ideas, and even started writing one of them, but the story just wasn’t going well. I wasn’t willing to try to force something that didn’t want to happen, so I decided to give it up as a lost cause and try to come up with a different idea.<\/p>\n

Just when I was starting to think I wouldn’t be able to write anything after all, Jim (my fiance) and I had a fun conversation that sparked an idea. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I started writing.<\/p>\n

It was slow going at first. I didn’t have a firm plan or vision for the story, and it was unlike anything I’d written before. But I got the intro and the ending written, and didn’t dislike them. I wrote bits as they came to me, and found that ideas flowed easier as I got further into the story. I suppose it shouldn’t really surprise me.<\/p>\n

Finally, after a month (a whole month!) I finished the story yesterday. It sits at just over 4,500 words. I gave it to some friends and fellow authors at Burning Willow Press to give it a look. I didn’t want to submit something that people really disliked.<\/p>\n

So far, though, it’s been well thought of. Everyone has at least enjoyed the story, which is all I can really ask for with a first draft. I think with a couple more read-throughs, and a bit of polishing, it’ll be ready to submit for consideration.<\/p>\n

I definitely think I’d like to try writing outside of my comfort zone even more, as I’m pretty happy with the final story, and it was a fun learning experience. But I don’t know that I want to tackle a deadline-based story again. It’s hard for me to just churn out content.<\/p>\n

I’ll certainly keep you all updated on what happens with this story. But for now, wish me luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a “typical” genre or style I write it, although I certainly prefer first person. What I will say, is…<\/p>\n

Keep ReadingWriting Outside Your Comfort Zone<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[43,26],"class_list":["post-387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-random-reflections","tag-story","tag-writing","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Z77k-6f","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2089,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/fates-kiss\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":0},"title":"The Story of Fate’s Kiss","author":"Rachel","date":"September 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I've told you the history of *The Most Special Chosen*, and now here's the story behind *Fate's Kiss*. I hope after reading you'll support the *Summer Heat* charity anthology.","rel":"","context":"In "Exalted Bloodlines"","block_context":{"text":"Exalted Bloodlines","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/exalted-bloodlines\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1010,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/cr-summer-heat\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":1},"title":"Cover Reveal – Summer Heat","author":"Rachel","date":"March 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I bring you a special cover reveal. Allow me to introduce you to the Summer Heat anthology. Summer Heat is a charity anthology I'm part of featuring nine fabulous female authors. It's due out July 6, so mark your calendars now. :) About Summer Heat With temperatures rising, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Blogger"","block_context":{"text":"Book Blogger","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/book-blogger\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Summer Heat Book Mockup","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/summerHeat-231x300.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":114,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/author-spotlight-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":2},"title":"Author Spotlight: CC Adams","author":"Rachel","date":"August 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s Author Spotlight time! If you want to know more about how the series got started, go check out the introduction post. Today the spotlight is on London native, CC Adams, author of horror and dark fiction. I\u2019m not really a fan of long introductions, so let\u2019s jump right in.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Blogger"","block_context":{"text":"Book Blogger","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/book-blogger\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC Adams","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/title-Blog.png?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1613,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/bb-summer-heat\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":3},"title":"Book Blitz – Summer Heat","author":"Rachel","date":"July 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Read on to learn more about the Summer Heat charity anthology, available now on Amazon. Proceeds benefit the Global Fund for Women. Don't miss the giveaway.","rel":"","context":"In "Book Blogger"","block_context":{"text":"Book Blogger","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/book-blogger\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Summer Heat Book Mockup","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/summerHeat-231x300.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":656,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/author-spotlight-27\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":4},"title":"Author Spotlight: Susan Schwartz","author":"Rachel","date":"November 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome \u2014 or welcome back \u2014 to another Author Spotlight! If you're new and want to know more about how the series got started, go check out the introduction post. Today the spotlight is on author and nurse, Susan Schwartz. - \u00a0- \u00a0- Let\u2019s start with the most important. What\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Blogger"","block_context":{"text":"Book Blogger","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/category\/book-blogger\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cover of Centennial Anthology","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/VWC-100-Pen-Cover-July-2017-Update-2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2415,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/bb-critd-iv\/","url_meta":{"origin":387,"position":5},"title":"Book Blitz – Crossroads in the Dark IV: Ghosts","author":"Rachel","date":"December 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Crossroads in the Dark IV: Ghosts anthology is now available. 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