Writing becomes therapy. If I can push my characters, challenge them to risk what I'm afraid to risk in my own life, they become more fully fleshed. And when I see them taking those risks, they inspire me to do the same. And that gives me more confidence to push them further. It's a positive cycle. But the opposite can also be true. If I won't let them take risks, I'm even less likely to take them myself, and then both life and writing become stagnant.

What risks are you willing to take in your writing was the question my friend Susanne posed. Think about it - and see if it isn't the same as the risk you maybe need to take in your life.