It’s natural to want every draft you write to be your best. Yet, as writers, we often become complacent once we find a comfortable groove. Maybe you have a reliable approach to blogging, or you’ve adopted a tried-and-true structure for your short stories. While consistency can be helpful, it can also trap you in the land of “good enough.”
Instead, let’s challenge ourselves to do better. Ask the tough questions: Are you stretching your creative limits, or are you recycling the same patterns? Are you embracing fresh techniques, or are you sticking to familiar territory because it’s easy? Improvement often requires intentionally stepping outside your comfort zone. If you generally write in the first person, experiment with third-person perspective. If you usually end your essays on a neat conclusion, consider leaving the reader with an open-ended question.
Why does this matter? Because every piece of writing you produce is a stepping stone toward mastery. By consciously seeking incremental growth—learning how to craft more nuanced characters, exploring new narrative structures, or experimenting with pacing—you sharpen your skills and keep your creative spirit alive. Readers can sense when a writer is evolving. That sense of discovery transfers to them, making your work feel more dynamic.
If you’re not sure where to start, pick a specific element of craft to level up. Maybe you’ll focus on creating more vivid sensory details, or building tension more effectively. Then, measure your progress by reviewing your older pieces. Can you see evidence of improvement? Celebrate those mini-victories, and then set a new goal. Let “Better, please” be your mantra. Each time you write, strive to leave your comfort zone just enough to keep things challenging—and genuinely exciting.
