Something New

Being creatures of habit, we humans really don't like doing something new, while at the same time our hearts yearn for it!  Yet, doing something new isn’t just a good idea, it’s essential for our lives to move forward; else we become complacent and stagnant in our creativity and vitality. 

As a writer, I’m always on the lookout for new story ideas, new trends,  and new movements in the publishing and writing industry.  I cannot allow a small measure of success in one area, keep me in that particular area, because the whole platform will shift, and I’ll fall to the wayside when that area has passed.  I have to be adaptable, moveable and amenable to change; else I’ll become complacent and stagnant in my creativity and vitality as a writer.

What was hot yesterday (genre, writing style or trend), will be cold tomorrow, BUT will eventually be hot once again, at least if it was a good idea.  Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, grand love stories, epic fantasies, outlandish sci-fi’s, memoirs, historical fictions, superheroes, period pieces and fairy tales have all come, gone and will come again.  They’re what we call “cyclic trends”.  If you write in one of the previous trends, and the trend has currently passed, put in on the shelf for a while, but don’t get rid of it; the trend will return – eventually.  Outdated writing styles will come back with a flare, and what you thought as something of the past, will become retro and chic once again.  However, be careful that you don’t spend all your time chasing trends, but being ahead of them.  Know your market, know what’s out there, and don’t stick your head in the mud thinking you’re an island onto yourself.  If you don’t flow with the changes, you’ll become complacent and stagnant in your creativity and vitality.

Till next time,

~T.L. Gray