Challenge a narrative
Practice this and it'll serve you
In writing, it’s easy to make a sweeping generalization (see what I did there?) but, it’s also intellectually lazy af. Practice ruthlessly interrogating the narratives you believe are true by picking a small thing, a narrative that is out there about something you think people have all wrong, and focus on that: challenge it, write about it, sit with it. Capture what emerges.
That might look like:
A widely known person/food/pop culture thing that is widely considered X but you don’t agree (“Who doesn’t love french fries?” Um, plenty of folks…)
Or, a belief people seem to have about the way people feel about the pandemic (“We are all freaking out and/or down about it.” Really?)
Or, a cultural phenomenon or movement you think about in a different way because of something you know that not many others do (“Yes, X [insert movement or cultural thing] is an important thing, but here is something everyone seems to be missing that I see because I do Z [have this experience/do this job/have this problem].”)**
Or, a belief people seem to have about a practice or way of being (“I know you’re busy!” or the “frantic mom” narrative, etc.)
** Don’t undermine something important with whataboutism. Add to the thing you support or dismantle an aspect of something you don’t support, but don’t be that person who just stirs to be a smug jerk. Also maybe practice with something low-stakes first.