When you only offer yourself one type of writing — say, short stories — you might feel safe. But eventually, the flavour dulls. The texture becomes stale. Writers often fall into the trap of “I must chase that one big idea” and ignore everything else. Much like eating only a block of cheddar all night.
Picture a gorgeous cheese board. A few wedges of this and that, maybe some rind, perhaps a smear, a crumb. The textures vary. The flavours surprise. You don’t just pick one and stick to it for the whole evening. You taste, you savour, you let things mingle.
That’s your writing life. Not one single genre, one big idea, one “goal” carved in stone. But a rich board of projects, moods, rhythms, and cheese‑type flavours. Today, in the spirit of Cheese Lovers Day, let’s unpack what that means — how embracing variety in your writing practice can refresh your creative self, build resilience, and keep things interesting.
When you only offer yourself one type of writing — say, short stories — you might feel safe. But eventually, the flavour dulls. The texture becomes stale. Writers often fall into the trap of “I must chase that one big idea” and ignore everything else. Much like eating only a block of cheddar all night.
Yet the writing world demands agility, curiosity, and room to change. What worked last year might feel hollow this year. So let’s widen the board.
What the “cheese board” offers the writer
Variety – Different writing forms (blog posts, short stories, newsletters, prompts) bring different muscles into play. Just like stinky blue cheese challenges your palate while fresh goat invites you softly, switching between forms flexes your range.
Texture – Some writing is hard and dense: research‑heavy, deep character work, longform. Some is soft and light: journalling, micro‑fiction, free‑writing. Both textures have value. Both feed you differently.
Unexpected pairings – On a cheese board you might pair brie with jam, hard cheddar with crusty bread, a bit of pickled fruit on the side. In writing: pair creativity with commerce, pair fiction with essays, pair solo work with collaboration. Those pairings spark new flavours.
Room for leftovers & crumbs – That slice you “wasted” last week? That half‑finished draft? These are not failures. They’re part of the board. You might revisit them, snack on them, or let them enrich your table later.
How to build your own creative cheese board
- Arrange three to five writing “cheeses” at once. Pick for example:
- one long project (firm, aged)
- one light piece (fresh)
- one experiment (goat/blue vibe)
- one collaborative snack (mini bites)
- Rotate regularly. Change one item each month. Maybe the experiment becomes firm, or the light piece is retired and replaced by a medium one.
- Add the condiments. These are your small supports: your writing playlist, a tea or coffee ritual, a recurring writing prompt, an accountability partner. They’re the olives and chutney of your board.
- Celebrate the textures. When you sit down to write, ask: “Am I writing something dense or something airy?” Let yourself enjoy the kind of writing that matches your mood, not just the one you think you should do.
- Serve leftovers with gratitude. That draft you abandoned? It might feed another idea. That zero‑word day? It’s still part of your table. Acknowledge it gently.
Why this board helps you stay engaged, resilient and authentic
Because variety guards against burnout. If one piece fails to fire you up, there’s another waiting. Because texture keeps your creativity alive. Because pairings invite surprise. And because leftovers remind you your creative life is never pristine – it’s lived, it’s messy, it’s delicious.
Writers often believe success means specialising early. But the truth? Early on, success might mean sampling widely. Building breadth before you narrow. Treating your writing practice the way you treat a cheese board: with curiosity, patience, joy.
So today, open your writing board. Take a slow look. What cheeses are you offering yourself? What might you add? What might you leave off? What pair would surprise you?
Pick one slice. Taste it. Write with it. And notice how it feels. You might be delighted. You might be puzzled. Either way: you’re creating a richer menu for your creative life.
Here’s to the variety. The textures. The unexpected pairings. The full board.