Ever wanted to write stories, but you've only written poetry? Do you love to read a romantic novel, but you usually stick to writing adventure fiction?

You can change it up!

Write in different genres. Ones that are out of your comfort zone. Venture into new places, like the characters in a book. Make stories that challenge your reader, and try to inspire them to challenge themselves as well.

Staying inside the boundaries of your comfort zone will not allow you the growth that you could undergo with writing in more than one genre.

There isn't a "right" way to start, but easy ones are to brainstorm and free write. Take a few minutes, and sit and frantically scribble (try to maintain legible handwriting, or your revisions might be more difficult - I know this firsthand), or slowly jot, whichever is your style. Whatever comes to mind, write it down. You can rearrange and change or fix the details later.

Write from wherever, from deep down or the tip of your tongue. Use inspiration from life, from books, from people you know, from people who make you want to be a better person, and from people who teach you how you don’t want to act. Use those characteristics, places, settings, actions, and reactions to set up even the bare bones of a story. Some take years to write and edit, and then edit some more. A writer’s editing is hardly ever completely done. It isn’t done until it feels just right, and that might not be right away. Good things take time - and all writers want to have success.

While writing down your ideas, or even after you have some down, you’ll want to begin organizing them. You might want to create a web, or map - you know, the bubbles connected by lines that intersect and may even cross over each other - to organize your free writing. Yes, those lines may get a little crazy looking, but it will eventually all come together. You will have to work at it - nothing worthwhile is easy. Piece together details as you come up with them, and slowly watch the characters and plot develop in front of you.

Experiment with genre! You never know what amazing stories you’ll end up writing.