Friday, August 28, 2009

Find the Strength...


I once heard a man say that bravery is just fear holding out for one moment longer. This guy rescued a child from a burning car. He said he didn't think about the danger or dying, he just thought about the child. He admitted he wasn't any braver than the next guy but the fear just didn't hit him right away. He just did what he had to do.
Although Tank Man had more courage than most he is an inspiration we can bring into all aspects of our life.
What does this have to do with writing?
At first I was afraid of showing my writing to anyone. Just the thought of a critique group struck fear in my heart. But fear was pushed aside and now it's a breeze.
Advice was given and gratefully taken. And I think I grew as a writer because of this.
Joining a writer's group? Who me? I'm no expert, not published, no where near as good as those published authors in that group, but a kind friend encouraged me and again I swallowed past the fear and now I'm loving it. RWA? Liberty State Fiction Writers? Let me at 'em!
I think fear holds us back more than anything else.
Tell me, what do you fear?
How do you break past it?

7 comments:

Spy Scribbler said...

I try to imagine I'm not afraid, LOL! I'm not very good at it. :-)

SJDuvall said...

I totally understand what you mean. For me, I have friends I turn to for critiques, and if I give my work to someone else, I still feel that fear. But right now, I'm mostly fearful of checking my email because I might find another rejection...

But you take the good with the bad and move on. You gotta, or it's just not worth it, is it?

Charles Gramlich said...

Fear stops us from doing so much that would not doubt turn out well for us. And probably even if things went bad they wouldn't be that bad. I'm terribly unbrave myself, unfortunately.

Aimlesswriter said...

Spy! I think your lifestyle change took a lot of courage! You have more than you realize.

Aimlesswriter said...

SJ,
I think creative people have to be the bravest people out there. It's like baring your soul every time.

Aimlesswriter said...

Charles,
You're a writer! I think there is courage in just putting your work out into the world.

Jm Diaz said...

I understand and agree with what you say about fear. However, when it gets to the critiques, I think it depends on the person. Some people criticize for the sake of discouraging. perhaps out of a sense of jealousy that they cannot create, or because they don't like seeing others succeed. These are usually the folks that never offer an opinion or an alternate solution. They only bash. I've learned to toughen my skin to these folks, but that did take a good while.
And speaking of writing groups, do you like being in one... I've been mulling over the idea of joining.

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