How Writing Forced Me Out of My Comfort Zone

I’ll admit it. Most days, you have to pry me away from the computer screen with a crowbar. I flourish before its dull glow, pretending bravery with every word I type. It’s my safe space. It’s my livelihood. It’s my everything.

People terrify me. It’s why I became a writer. It’s the best way I know of to connect.

But writing can also push you out there. Take you out of your comfort zone. Give you the opportunity to try new things. And — conveniently — this is where the best writing comes from.

This past weekend was more action-packed than it’s been in awhile. In fact, it’s probably the most I’ve been away from a computer screen in eons. It wasn’t my fault, though! I blame the writing.

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Come See Me Maybe Barf And Pass Out In Public!

Why have I embraced writing so fully? Perhaps because I’m just better in writing. And because I have major social anxiety. And I’m an introvert with reclusive tendencies. And I have a history of passing out in front of large groups of people.

Seriously. During one book presentation in high school, I literally saw my world go gray. And during a choir rehearsal, I full-on passed out. I had been standing on the second level of a set of risers and, when my head hit the floor (just narrowly missing the corner of the piano), my choir director actually thought the risers were collapsing!

So when my senior editor at YourTango asked if I would be interested in reading at their lit crawl event this year, I was equal parts excited and balls-out horrified.

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