Adaptation is the key to survival, and the first step to that adaptation is to know your terrain. Every environment you encounter will have its own set of rules. These rules must be studied and respected at all times. This respect will determine whether that terrain becomes your ally or enemy. — from The Zombie Survival Guide
The unknown—a new writing style or project—is terrifying, but that’s only because it’s viewed as the enemy. Make it your friend. Get to know it as well as Ender got to know the Buggers. When you know the enemy that well, it’s no longer frightening. You may not like it, and it may not ultimately suit you, but you love it anyway. You’ve come to treasure its idiosyncrasies and challenges. It’s become your friend.
Study it. Dig into its rules. More importantly, respect the rules. They exist for a reason. Break them at your peril. That doesn’t mean you should be afraid; rather, respecting the rules allows you to use them to your advantage. You can push against them, make them bend to your will. This is important when in an environment you’d rather not be. Everything around you is the means to survival but only if you come to the terrain with awe, respect, and love.
So get comfortable. Make yourself a bunker. Get ready to camp out for a while—you’re going to be here for a while. Don’t be afraid. Scope out the terrain. Make the unknown your friend. Learn to adapt, for its the key to not only your survival but also your writing’s.
Image: Homini (Creative Commons)