Some of you may have thought of the movie Top Gun when you read that line, or perhaps of the artist Kenny Loggins, or perhaps it didn’t strike you at all.  That may be one of those age revealing scenarios, but I think it fits the thought I had for this post quite well.

Being only 1 year old in 1986 when Top Gun hit theaters, I wasn’t there on opening night (or at least wasn’t aware of it if I was). But I did watch Top Gun at some point in the early 90’s and, being male, I watched it again and again and again.  I believe the copy I had was a recorded VHS of an HBO airing. I didn’t really care about the plot (which isn’t too bad) or the characters (which weren’t too bad either), I was more concerned with the jets. And seeing things blow up.

I had these wonderful things called Micro Machines and I re-enacted the dogfights and combat scenes before, during, and after each viewing of the movie. And I whistled that song that makes you want to wear aviator shades and drive too fast. That song that gives us that invincible feeling. Yeah there’s four migs on your backside and you’ve lost a turbine – but you’re Maverick, the best of the best, and you can do it.

I was thinking we should take that kind of attitude when we write as well. We should blare some good 80’s rock music and just hammer out the prose with no regard. Maybe typing away on a laptop is not quite as cool as riding a Kawasaki down a runway with Kelly McGillis glued to your back, but if you can get in touch with your inner eye and give the readers what you’re seeing – then I believe it can be.

We need to take risks with our writing. Step outside of our comfort zone, say what we’re really thinking rather than water it down for the benefit of the reader or whomever you’re pitching it too.  Romance isn’t exactly my favorite genre to read or write in, but I’m almost done with a novel now that I’ve enjoyed working on thoroughly. Does that mean I’m not going to go back to my sociopath vs. detective story or my drunken star captain science fiction story? No. But it means I’m taking a risk and hopefully it’s paying off.

Try stepping outside of the box with a story. Try something you think you don’t like. You might be surprised how much you like what comes out when you take a ride in the danger zone.