Do you think it's important, as a writer, to go outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself, technique-wise? Or are you comfortable sticking to POVs, tenses, and other stylistic choices that come naturally to you?
For some reason, I've never written anything in first person. Any time I come up with an idea, I automatically start writing it in limited third, past tense. Sometimes I consider trying another POV, but it feels weird and I end up reverting to what I'm comfortable with.
I read plenty of stuff in first person. I also read stuff in present tense, and the occasional book written in omniscient POV. So it's not that I'm not exposed to other styles.
Sometimes I wonder if my consistency is a problem. What if I'm missing out on wonderful opportunities? What if some of my stories would be better if I wrote them a different way? What if I'm limiting myself as a writer? On the other hand, I find that I tend to be focused on the story first and foremost, and prefer telling it in a way that's comfortable for me to experimenting with form. I've been thinking, though, about trying to write some shorter stories in different POVs and tenses than I'm used to, to practice and see how I like it.
I'm curious what people think. Do you think versatility is important?
For some reason, I've never written anything in first person. Any time I come up with an idea, I automatically start writing it in limited third, past tense. Sometimes I consider trying another POV, but it feels weird and I end up reverting to what I'm comfortable with.
I read plenty of stuff in first person. I also read stuff in present tense, and the occasional book written in omniscient POV. So it's not that I'm not exposed to other styles.
Sometimes I wonder if my consistency is a problem. What if I'm missing out on wonderful opportunities? What if some of my stories would be better if I wrote them a different way? What if I'm limiting myself as a writer? On the other hand, I find that I tend to be focused on the story first and foremost, and prefer telling it in a way that's comfortable for me to experimenting with form. I've been thinking, though, about trying to write some shorter stories in different POVs and tenses than I'm used to, to practice and see how I like it.
I'm curious what people think. Do you think versatility is important?