Embracing discovery

Not fearing doubt

‘Expect nothing and hope for the best’ is my mantra. A drama teacher called Joseph Blatchley told me that, and it’s the best advice I’ve had. If you keep an open mind and don’t expect too much, then you won’t be disappointed.

Michelle Dockery

Well Writers! It’s the new year!

So long, 2025, a year of great joy and sadness, of triumph and loss, exhilaration and frustration. After many highs and lows, I am determined to hold onto my mantra: eat dessert first/embrace the power of play. I’ve promised myself to use my agency in all the things that matter: my writing. my activism. And mostly, my family. I’m going to continue to write what makes me happy, without expectations. I would really like to schedule more IN PERSON stuff. And this year, I am also going to embrace doubt. Not knowing. Leaving myself open to new exploration.

If you like finding a word for the year, I think that’s mine. I want to EXPLORE.

I’m going to sit with doubts longer. I’m going to see doubt—not as an obstacle—but an opportunity for that exploration.

Already, this mindset is already paying off. On Jan 1, I finished a draft of a novel I began this summer. This is always a good feeling. To get to an end. I like where this one landed, and I am proud of the chances I took and the themes I discovered. In my writing life, you may have noticed that I like challenging myself, trying new things, not leaning too hard on any one genre or brand. This act invites doubt. Unknowing. Risk. There are still lots of things to do with what I call my “reach for it” idea. It’s going to be interesting.

But what I want to offer you today is that feeling you get AFTER the feedback comes.

Because I have another project. One that has needed more time. Last week, my critique group discussed it, plus a good friend read it, and HERE I AM, not freaking out. (Progress, people! Measure it!) They found some potential that I had completely overlooked. They asked me some big questions, about one character in particular. This was a character I thought I understood. It was a character I didn’t think I had to question. It was a character that had not made me doubt.

Until that moment.

Instead of berating myself (as we all sometimes do), I journaled. I asked questions. I considered their ideas and found the glimmer that had been waiting for me all along.

I embraced doubt. I didn’t get scared. And it wasn’t that bad. I saw what I was missing. I am making those connections now. It feels great. No doubts anymore.

Friends, it’s not possible to know everything at the beginning. At least not for me. Creating real, authentic, memorable characters takes time. It HAS to offer doubt. This is the beauty of doubt that I want to wrestle with this year. Doubt leads to questions. Discoveries. New answers. Doubt leads to reaching further—out of the expected and into a more interesting and truly vulnerable place—away from that “low hanging fruit.” Friends, this is not always comfortable. But it yields to truth. It’s an invitation to be real. Vulnerable. Honest with ourselves, our families, our friends, and our readers. It feels good. It really is the only way.

I am not going to doubt that.

Are you ready to stretch?

Let’s hone in on foils.

I love creating and reading about foils—characters that reflect on each other and make us think deeply about the ideas presented in the story. Sometimes, they want the same things. Sometimes, they have different strategies. Even if they share no scenes, their moments speak to each other.

Do you have two characters who want the same thing? Or stand in for your theme? Or illuminate it in very different ways? This week, look at these characters. Ask yourself what more they can do. Embrace the questions that exist in the space of your story and your heart.

My word, this year, is explore. A construct of doubt. Let’s keep writing together.

xo sarah

If you need accountability, this is more than a zoom room. Chris and I offer regular discussions, brainstorms, virtual retreats, and open mics. It has made a big difference for me.