From Edie: Discover why writers grow most outside their comfort zones and how embracing discomfort can strengthen your craft, confidence, and publishing journey. Learn practical ways to turn awkward, uncertain moments into meaningful creative and professional growth.
Why Writers Grow Outside Their Comfort Zone: The Power of Discomfort in the Writing Life
by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767
Growth rarely announces itself politely. More often, it shows up as a racing heart, a knot in the stomach, a shaky yes, or the uneasy realization that we’ve stepped into territory where we don’t quite belong yet. For writers and publishing professionals, those moments of discomfort are not detours from success. They are often the very path to it.
In the writing and publishing world, we talk a lot about craft, platform, and strategy. We attend conferences, read blogs (like this one), and listen to podcasts, hoping to find the next clear step forward. What we don’t always talk about is the quiet, persistent discomfort that comes with growth—and how essential it is.
For authors, discomfort often shows up when we step into something new. Maybe it’s experimenting with a risky genre, offering to teach a workshop when we don’t feel fully qualified, or saying yes to a speaking engagement that stretches us beyond the page. Each of these moments asks us to admit something uncomfortable: we’re not experts yet.
I often think back to my days in a doctoral program in educational leadership. On paper, I learned a great deal: how to manage people, systems, and budgets; how to think strategically and lead with intention. But when I stepped into the actual profession, I quickly realized how much I didn’t know. No one prepared me for what to do when the nurse was out, and I needed to administer medication. Or what happens when several students have accidents, and you’ve run out of spare clothes? Or how to respond when the cafeteria erupts into a full-blown food fight.
Those moments were uncomfortable, humbling, and sometimes overwhelming. But they were also deeply instructive. Education gave me a foundation; experience gave me wisdom. And the same is true for writing and publishing.
We can study craft and industry trends endlessly, but at some point, growth requires action—and action often brings discomfort. We learn not only from what goes right, but from what goes wrong. In fact, we often learn more from our mistakes, our experiments, and our willingness to take chances.
Here are five ways to work through discomfort so it becomes a tool for growth rather than a barrier:
1. Name the discomfort instead of avoiding it.
When something feels hard or awkward, acknowledge it. Discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing; it usually means you’re stretching. Simply naming that feeling can reduce its power and help you move forward with intention.
2. Give yourself permission to be a beginner.
Every author you admire was once new to something—publishing, speaking, teaching, or leading. Growth requires us to let go of the pressure to perform perfectly and embrace the learning curve.
3. Learn by doing, not waiting.
You will never feel fully ready. Experience comes from participation, not preparation alone. Whether it’s pitching a new idea or stepping onto a stage, action is what turns knowledge into understanding.
4. Reflect on mistakes with curiosity, not shame.
Missteps are inevitable. Instead of replaying them with regret, ask what they taught you. Reflection turns discomfort into insight and helps you approach the next opportunity with greater confidence.
5. Remember why you said yes.
When discomfort rises, reconnect with your purpose. Are you hoping to broaden your reach, serve others, or grow as a storyteller? Purpose has a way of carrying us through uncertainty.
Discomfort isn’t a sign that we’re on the wrong path. Frequently, it’s proof that we’re exactly where we need to be. For authors and publishing professionals alike, growth occurs when education meets experience—and when we’re willing to learn through the messier, unscripted moments. Those moments shape us the most.
A Call to Step Forward
If you find yourself standing at the edge of something new: a genre shift, a workshop opportunity, a speaking invitation, or a role that feels just beyond your reach—consider this your invitation to step anyway. Choose one small action this month that stretches you. Say yes before you feel ready. Learn as you go. Growth in publishing doesn’t happen in comfort zones; it happens when education meets experience and courage carries us forward.
TWEETABLE
AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 board and the 540 Writer’s Community board and is an art instructor for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine hosts the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel to her first general market thriller novel. Her thriller A Fifth of the Story will debut in February 2024 through Endgame Press.
Katherine flourishes in developmental editing and coaching writers. She has a twenty-year career in education, leadership, and journalism. Katherine freelances as an educational consultant for charter schools, home school programs, and churches. In this role, she has written and edited curriculum, led program development, and helped manage growth facilitating and public relations. She also works as an editor and book coach through her consulting business. Katherine provides skill, accountability, and professionalism so clients can begin, develop, and finish their writing projects for publication.
Reflecting on mistakes with curiosity and not shame is a very good point.
ReplyDeleteNice article. Great advice. Thank you. It reminds of the saying, "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly." We do our best every time and keep getting better.
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