Stepping Outside Your Reading Comfort Zone

Hello readers, writers, and any interdimensional beings checking in to see if I’m still cringe.

Today I want to talk about a topic friends, family, and book club members of mine have been enduring for years, and that is reading outside of your comfort zone. Maybe you’re a diehard romantasy-loving booktok girlie, or a philosophical new wave sci-fi bro. Maybe you prefer the classics, or the pulp era, or exclusively read Tom Clancy. Whatever your go-to is, I get it!

If it ain’t broke, why change it? Well, for one you might discover another genre that you’ll love as much as your go-to. Secondly, and more importantly to me, is that stepping outside of your preferred genre once in a while will enrich your perspective going forward. Reading a deeply contemplative and open-ended piece of contemporary fiction might draw out your appreciation for the satisfaction of the hero’s journey in high fantasy. The complexities of world building in a high fantasy might highlight the way historical war dramas require the same speculative elements to create a convincing setting. Romance is the genre most outside of my comfort zone, but I still go to it for insight and inspiration on writing chemistry and tension, not to mention that I can always appreciate the beauty of a narrowed down objective.

Trust me on this one, I’ve only ever learned to love science fiction more by exploring other genres. There’s a whole world of genre out there just waiting for you!