Melissa Llanes Brownlee

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Is It Okay To Write Outside What You Are Known For?

Is it okay to write about something else besides Hawai’i?

I struggle with this constantly.

I know that writing about Hawai’i and my life there is important. There aren’t many voices sharing their experiences and their art outside of the islands.

Sometimes, I just want to write about tardigrades, the destruction of the universe, competitive eating - you know other stuff, and I do, but I feel like I am doing a disservice to the art I have already created by sullying it with this other stuff. That’s stupid, right? It’s still me. It’s still my work.

I think I have to allow myself the freedom to write whatever I feel like and not limit myself to just writing about growing up/living in Hawai’i - I will still write about that though. I think giving myself permission to just write without boundaries or limits (well within reason, I still can’t crack 500 words for some reason) and see where the journey takes me.

Finally, I got some really wonderful news that I can’t wait to share with you all. Sending light and love and creativity!