I’ve been asked a lot of things in my time. There’s very little that phases me. But when Suzannah boldly demanded to know what I wore beneath my jeans, I had to arch an eyebrow. Instead of answering, I let her put the question to our crowd.
Enjoy her post – oh, and feel free to show off your style in the comment section!
You have a favourite pair of underpants. I know you do.
They’re comfy. You feel good wearing them. Neither fraying waistbands nor faded colour can hide their true worth. Try as you might, you can’t seem to find another pair that suit you as well.
In the same way that you love those undies, you have a comfort zone of writing in which you’re used to working.
Your writer shorts may be holding you back from taking your writing to the next level.
Granny Panties
Granny was always admired for her common sense, and if you’re a Granny-panties writer, so are you.
You like to be covered from all angles. The word ‘risk’ is not part of your vocabulary. Tried, tested and true methods serve as a basis for your writing. If it worked before, you figure it’ll work again.
People regard you as dependable for:
• Professionalism
• Meeting deadlines ahead of time
• Solid ideas
• Excellent attention to detail in editing and proofreading
• Thoroughly considering situations before making decisions or commitments
Though colleagues, editors, or clients know they can rely on you, the fact you worry too much about risk prevents you from trying new types of writing, and you can get boxed into always using the same old style.
And, because you aren’t the type to be daring, you might be seen as straight-laced. You may not be the kind of person who works well within a team, either.
Strings and Things
The G-string is the most gregarious of underpants. If you’re a string style of person, you thrive on new and exciting ideas.
You’re great at taking on a variety of projects. Finishing what you’ve started is another thing. Because of your lack of organization, you find yourself bogged down by more commitments than you can handle.
You’ve been known to experiment and use shock-value to gain readers. But that could mean you’re too wild for current market trends and end up with a reputation as a rebel. That means not much work for you.
Colleagues enjoy your endless energy and vitality, of course, but you can come across as self-centered. You find it difficult to deal tactfully with others’ ideas or to hand over control to someone else.
Boxer-Briefs
If boxer briefs are more your thing, you’re a writer who offers a good combination of reliability and novelty.
Though you have your own comfort zones to push out of, you do understand the importance of trying new things and taking calculated risks. It’s the best of both worlds.
Market appeal is paramount in your writing – you want your words to be sexy, after all. But you don’t fall prey to every passing trend, because you want your writing to support the desired results of your client.
People love working with you. You have a friendly manner and great listening skills. You accept the ideas of others and aren’t afraid to admit when you’re wrong.
As much as you’re a team player, though, your reluctance to take on a lead role is caused by an innate desire to please everyone. You may not stand out as an authority leader and might be left behind.
How to Make the Style Switch
There’s no need to get your knickers in a twist. No one is asking you to throw away your favourite underpants. Besides, they look good on you.
Still, have you considered shopping around a bit? Is it possible there might be another pair you could wear now and again?
If you’re stuck in granny panties:
• Branch out into other forms of writing. If you mainly write for business, try starting a blog. Or, swap from blogging to creative non-fiction articles for magazines.
• Learn more about what’s hot in the market. You don’t have to be a fad junkie, just become more aware of what’s relevant at what time.
• Take part in a team project. It may push your boundaries, but who knows — you might actually learn something from other people. Try to be nice to your teammates, even when you think they’re dorks.
• Improve your knowledge and use of social media. Discover how you can get more exposure for your name and work.
G-string fans should definitely:
• Get organized: If you accept fewer assignments at once and find a better method of organization, you’ll be more likely to finish everything you start.
• Be more open-minded to others’ ideas: Maybe it’s not your idea, but that doesn’t mean it completely lacks merit. It’s fine to tell someone their idea isn’t feasible, but learn to be more tactful when you do it.
• Resist the urge to follow every market trend: Capitalize on trends that fit with your project; don’t overhaul a project to fit a current trend.
• Take a back-seat in a team project: Occasionally, let another capable person take the reins. Give yourself permission to be a follower for once.
Boxer brief fan? You can up the game a bit if you:
• Try something radically different: Think of the one thing you could never imagine yourself writing, then try to write it. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover a new talent.
• Become a team leader: You already have the skills necessary to organize a killer project. You just need to improve your confidence.
• Learn you can’t please everyone: It’s good to be nice. It’s great to be tactful. But, you can’t be everything to everyone, all of the time.
• Discover what makes you unique: What distinguishes you as a writer from others in your field? How can you set yourself apart?
The Perfect Panties?
The truth is that none of the underpants styles is necessarily best. What works for you takes into consideration many different factors: your personality and strengths, your working environment, and whether you write for business or pleasure.
It’s still vital to discover what you could be doing to improve your success and satisfaction as a writer. If your panties have you stuck in a rut, consider making the occasional style switch to rev it up a notch.
Your writing (and your rear-end) will thank you for it.
When she’s not out shopping for shorts, strings and underthings, Suzannah Windsor Freeman is over at her blog, writing boldly and viewing the word world from a fresh perspective. Check her stuff out at Write It Sideways.
