What Risk Do You Need to Take with Your Writing Today?

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt
“I wish I had taken a risk. You have everything to win and nothing to lose.” Elise Cranny (1996-), American Olympian, middle and long-distance runner
I watched the Olympics as I wrote this blog, specifically the Women’s 5000m, where American middle- and long-distance runner Elise Cranny competed in her second Olympics. 
As the elite female athletes competed, one of the commentators talked about Cranny’s previous Olympic performance—specifically how she said, “I wish I had taken a risk. You have everything to win and nothing to lose.”
Would Cranny do it this time? Would she take a risk on that purple track in Paris? 
A few moments after I wondered what Cranny would do, she made her move, attempting to catch up with the race leaders. She matched their pace for a while, and then the frontrunners once again moved ahead of her. Ultimately, Cranny placed eleventh overall. 
Yes, she took that risk.
No, she didn’t win.
Was the risk worth it?
Absolutely. Cranny ran to win.
Writers, when’s the last time you took a risk?
Maybe your biggest risk today is to show up and keep writing. Choose to persevere when you’re tired, when your story’s not working, when your word count is way-less than what you’d planned on by this time. You’re not guaranteed things will get easier, but you put forth the effort no matter what the outcome. 
Maybe your biggest risk today is to celebrate who you are as a writer. Step away from the comparison trap. Take a moment and recall your strengths as a writer. Better yet, write them down. Are you good at crafting dialogue? Can you pen a strong devotional that ministers to others? Are you undaunted when it comes to developing a synopsis? Today’s the day you step back and applaud your strengths.
Maybe your biggest risk today is to finish what your started. Finish that manuscript—which happens one word, one sentence, one scene, one chapter at a time. Finish that proposal. Finish that pitch. Toss the word “perfection” out the door and aim for completion. Rewriting is always part of the writing game, but first you must finish whatever you’ve been working on. 
Maybe, my friend, you just need to finish today holding onto hope. Sometimes that’s the biggest challenge we face: Finishing today believing we can get up tomorrow and begin again. As writers, we’re always balancing the challenges in our real life with the challenges we face in our writing life. 
I hope you share in the comment section what risk you’ve taken lately—or what risk you’re taking today. Go ahead, take that risk. Remember: You have everything to win and nothing to lose! I’m cheering you on!
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Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, released June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.