I’m doing a little celebratory dance today because this is the third month IN A ROW that I’ve posted for the ISWG 🎉 I’m slowly getting back on track! Whoop whoop!
The IWSG is a wonderful group of people who help each other through their writerly lives, sharing the ups and downs, and are generally an amazing bunch who are always on hand with an encouraging word or two (or three, or four, or five …) Anyway, please do go and check them out and see who else has posted on their sign-up list.
This month the co-hosts are Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre and Shannon Lawrence. Thank you lovelies for hosting! Make sure you head over and say hello to them as well as checking out some of the other contributors in the IWSG.
Each month there is an optional question to ponder and discuss, and the topic for March is:
Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it, or not?
I’ve thought long and hard about this, but I don’t really think I’ve ever been conflicted about writing something; at least not yet, anyway.
Perhaps I’m not far enough along on my writing journey, or perhaps the topics and issues I’ve written about aren’t ones that have the potential to make me feel that way. Which also makes me wonder if that makes them less readable or enjoyable. If I’m ‘playing safe’ all the time with my writing, does that mean it isn’t interesting, or does it just mean that I feel comfortable with what I’m writing, enough that I don’t feel conflicted about it?
Hmmm, this question really is a thinker for me, and I may need to get back to you when I can answer it more fully.
I’d love to hear what others have made of this question, and will be heading to the IWSG list to see what they think.
How about you? Have you ever been conflicted in your writing?
H J Musk 
I think your questions are great, and they’ll help you place/remove every scene to keep your readers turning pages. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you, Anna. I suppose part of the job of a writer is to keep asking ourselves questions to help focus our writing.
It’s okay to write “safe” if that’s what your readers want
Very true. Being attuned to our readers will certainly help to guide our choices.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt conflicted about writing something either. There are a few things that I know I don’t want to write about (stuff that’s a little too personal), but I don’t feel conflicted about that. I know pretty clearly what those boundaries are.
Perhaps that’s the same for me, and until now I’ve never really thought about it. I do love a good IWSG question for focusing the mind and making us think about our own processes.
Absolutely!
I don’t think you need to feel like you’re challenging yourself in your writing. I mean, try new techniques, practice and push yourself, but you don’t need to write something that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you wouldn’t want to read it, why on earth would you write it?!?! (I mean, unless someone is offering you bucketsful of cash, or something)
These are all very good points. I’m working on my writing in terms of structure and technique, and if I want to challenge with anything else, I’m sure it’ll come naturally if it’s within my comfort zone.
You raise interesting points. I think if you feel good about your writing, it should be a sign you’re on the right track – sometimes it’s better not to second guess things and just go with them! There’s no reason to push controversial subject matter.
Thank you, Nick. I do have a tendency to sometimes overthink things (and not just in writing), so I need to remember to just let things flow and whatever I write will come naturally.
I wonder if some genres would have more people questioning what they’re writing, while others don’t need to involve that? It’s an interesting question. Either way, there’s no reason everyone should have to deal with that sort of conflict around their writing. It’s nice to not have it. I rarely do.
It’s nice to know that other people also feel they don’t have conflict when they write. I was beginning to wonder if it made me a bad or thoughtless writer, but it’s reassuring to know I’m in good company.