Writing Outside of the Box

I write this reflection between work on my 4th novel and going to my job as a chemist.  Sometimes in order to create something worthwhile you have to stray off of the path.  I am coming to realize this in my fictional characters.  That thing that differentiates them from being mere plot devices and allows you to take them for a drive.
To me Science Fiction is more than a vision of technological advancement but a greater understanding of beings.  Depth is necessary to achieve this vision and to avoid falling into writing things that become too comfortable.
I hereby embrace and salute writing from outside of the box.