Go for the wow.

Why are we so afraid to stand out? For one, we'll get noticed and being noticed means we are more likely to be judged. We all want to be loved. Saying we don't is just the ego's defense. Take my front door, one of my many fixer upper projects on my home. I fought the desire to be different with the desire to please others. I've worked with color for almost twenty years as a creative in the advertising/marketing world. Yet when my kids went - blech! - I began to question my carefully selected palette. I had to get my HGTV-lovin' neighbor (a guy even) to give me his honest opinion.
He reminded me that on Curb Appeal the designers always give the door a bold color - something that makes it stand out from the curb. He's right. I was letting the fact that most of the houses in the neighborhood have "safe/neutral" front doors keep me from meeting my goal to give the entrance more personality.
I think we do this in all areas of our lives. In our writing, we can be safe, but will that get us the book deal? Will readers talk about us? The "expected" is easily forgotten. We have to fight the urge for approval when we are going in unchartered territory. Did you catch the JK Rowling interview with Oprah? She let her imagination go when she wrote the Harry Potter books. What's stopping you from making your life the one you imagine?
If something isn't quite right the first time, don't give up. The beige I'd hoped for on the trim ended up being way too light so I had to take it back and have a darker color added to the ten gallons. It's worth the extra effort. What do you need to make that happen?
Quell the negative voices - both your own and your well-meaning others - and go for the zing. You have one person (me!) cheering for you.