One of the beautiful things about fall is how the leaves change colors in such unique ways. No two leaves are the same, but they all reflect the beauty of fall.
Just like fall leaves, writing can take on different hues. Your first draft can look one way. As you begin to shape your story, your writing style might change. And that’s good. It means you’re growing, your story is taking shape, and transformation is happening.
Writers often think they need to keep a consistent tone or direction throughout their project. But writing is a journey. Where you end up might not look anything like what you started with or expected. Writing is a living experience. Change is good.
You might see changes in the tone of your project. Maybe you started with a more academic tone and have shifted into something lighter or warmer.
Perhaps you’ve started cutting out large sections of your first draft as new ideas take shape. That’s okay! That’s part of the writing journey. Embrace the new atmosphere of your writing path.
You might even notice that you’ve changed from a literary writing style to a more straightforward teaching style. If that’s what your ideal reader needs, then the change is a good one.
Changes in writing hues often reflect your deeper engagement with your project. Maybe you understand your reader better. Or you’re finding your authentic voice. Keep at it. Transformation is happening.
Here’s something you can try today. Go back to an earlier paragraph that you wrote a while ago, or maybe an old blog post. If this post were a leaf, what color would it change to today?
Feel free to rewrite that paragraph to reflect where you are now as a writer. This doesn’t mean you have to rewrite or republish old pieces. It’s just a way for you to see how far you’ve come and how things have changed and continue to change. It’s a way to recognize, embrace, and celebrate who you are as a writer today—and who you are becoming.
Janet Eriksson 