Usually when we write, we write about things we enjoy. It entertains us as much as the audience (or at least it should). So what when you have to take a serious turn and write about deeper issues?
Over the last few days I've had to step out of my comfort zone and write some things with deeper meaning and connotations. It has stirred a lot of emotion within me and challenged me to push past where I'm usually game enough to go. I've learned a lot.
Firstly, if it stirs deep emotion within me, chances are it will with others. That's a good thing. We shouldn't always be looking to entertain in a 'happy' way. Some of the best books I've read, movies I've seen or songs I've heard have made me cry. It all started with The Little Match Girl when I was about 4-years-old. Then came Lassie and E.T. As I got older and understood more there were Michael Jackson and Bob Geldof.
Secondly, I realised that when I step out of my comfort zone and write about challenging issues, of course it will come from my beliefs and it is hard to get those out of the way. I got so frustrated with what I had to write because I was trying to be generic, I was trying to be Switzerland. There was no emotion in it and it felt wrong to me. That's when I had the epiphany that I don't have to do that. All the stories that stirred emotion in me, were written from someone elses opinions. Not everyone agrees with them, but they were true to their own beliefs and wrote from the heart.
That's what we need to do. Write from the heart. Put emotion into it, feel brave enough to share your opinions and beliefs with others, otherwise it's journalism. Writing for entertainment, whether it be to incite a positive or negative responses, is ultimately for entertainment. If people want cold hard facts and an unbiased delivery they will watch documentaries and the news or read the newspaper and National Geographic.
Understanding that it is OK to impart your views has been a huge step for me this week. I need to believe in what I write and be OK to put my name to it. I've always known I won't please everyone, but I haven't been brave enough to challenge their values or beliefs with my own. Now I am.
I hope you can step out of your comfort zone and learn more about yourself in the process too.
Happy writing ;)
Emma
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