“How do you jump into the unknown?”- a question I’ve often asked myself.
Each time I’ve been at the crossroads, my instincts have come into play, nudging me to take the leap. Consequently, I’ve come to depend on them a great deal more as they have almost always guided me to the right outcomes. I’ve always thought through my choices and mulled over them in my own way. No rushing into, ever. That’s me.
That is also how my blog was born. Months of deliberation and then, one fine day, I was ready with my first piece of writing for the blog – a travel piece on Bylakuppe, a little known Tibetan settlement, close to Coorg in Karnataka. The joy of seeing it completed was indescribable. Over the next couple of weeks, I revelled in it with the excitement of a schoolgirl. Throughout the day, through all my chores, the one constant thought that kept me occupied was the blog. Every now and then, I sat down to tweak what I wrote. In the coming weeks, a few more pieces were ready.
I can clearly recall the thrill and excitement each time a post was published. The day I launched Soul Talk, it already had 11 posts! In time, I was already publishing at least twice a week and had few people with very encouraging comments telling me that they enjoyed going through the blog! Thus began my blogging journey one dull January morning in 2015.
Now, when I look back, in all honesty, I must admit that it hasn’t been without hiccups. With my blogging as much as life itself, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs over the past year. A high period, followed by a low and then a slump, followed by a weak revival and then, picking up pace – the journey to self-discovery has meant that I have grown as a person too!
A little more than a year into it now, I no longer feel the intense pressure of having to turn up a piece to publish. I struggle the most when I’m juggling time especially when a handful of things are screaming for my attention and I’ve missed a submission deadline. Of course, a number of times, I’ve also been caught in the throes of a writer’s block. On the whole, I’ve been able to stick to a writing schedule and it no longer feels like an unknown territory, but a safe, familiar one. My ultimate luxury has been having days when I’ve had the peace and quiet to work uninterrupted, tapping away at my keyboard, writing my heart out, through the best part of the day!
Being comfortable isn’t a bad thing at all. But, being too comfortable can end up leading us to creative stagnation. Not a nice idea to end up resting on our laurels and then withdrawing into the comforting confines of a predictable routine.
And, this is where I’m coming to – Time has come to invite a bit of danger in and put oneself outside the comfort zone. I wish to let the feeling and experiences of not knowing help me find new creative ideas. One way I like to put myself into the writing danger zone is to tackle some of my own inhibitions that may be holding me back creatively. By pushing myself out into the uncharted waters, I intend to grow – as a person and a writer.
My resolution for 2016 has been to fill the everyday moments with more laughter, more music and more of the wonderful experiences that I’ve often thought of but not really pursued. Whether it is getting over my fear of speaking in front of large crowds, trying out a new genre of writing, experimenting with different means of tapping into my creative juices or being a little less cautious in experiencing life as it comes, I’m hoping these risks will lead me on to something new and different, something that will also leave a lasting impact on my writing.
Will it be easy? Nope. Worth it? Absolutely!
What are your goals as a writer this year and how are you set to achieve it?
What is/are the most difficult thing(s) that you have been able to overcome recently in your journey as a writer/blogger?
(This post was written for #MondayMusings on Everyday Gyaan)