What makes artists courageous? Usually when we think of the word courage we think of synonyms such as daring, fearless, or heroic. We often associate those terms to jobs that involve putting your life on the line. For example, a firefighter is heroic and could be seen as fearless.
Maybe it’s unrealistic to place writers and artists as courageous? While artists are not saving our forests and homes from fires they’re courageous in their own way.
Here are four ways you are a courageous, creative artist. Maybe, I can let this sink in my head as well. I need it!
Following your dreams takes courage.
The act of creating takes a considerable amount of imagination, craft, and heart. All artists start with an idea. visualizing what it may look like well before that vision finally found its way on a canvas or computer screen. As your art progresses you begin to become emotionally invested.
As as artist you pour your heart and soul into your project. There are many places you can stop creating. For me, getting it out into the world is a big one!
Will they like it? Can I sell it? What kind of judgment will be placed on my art, my writing, my_________?
These are factors you have no control over. Oftentimes this is when my personal insecurities are the biggest hurdles causing me not to make the “out in the world” step. Then, pair those insecurities with possible negativity from family and friends. We all have at least one person in our life that is negative about, or upset with what we are trying to accomplish.
As I continue to follow my dreams toward a creative life it has taken some serious courage. I’ve had to push through my insecurities, fears and other people’s negative talk including my own about my craft in order to put myself out there.
Recently, I asked a fellow writer and editor to take a look at a personal flash piece from my memoir. this piece is one that makes me shake to share it. The writer welcomed reading and editing my piece. That part was done and I let it go out to her, but what about the feedback?
Listening to criticism takes courage.
This one is probably the hardest for most writers. ME included! I say writers because I’ve not worked hard enough on another craft to get to the criticism point. When I craft a story it’s personal. I’ve nourished it and helped it to grow. It’s MY baby. Now I get to offer that hard work up to outside world for judgement. I have zero control how readers respond to my story.
I don’t care what anyone says, deep down I want someone to like what I write. TRULY. Nobody likes to hear their book is not engaging or that you haven’t landed a solid narrative voice. Personally, I’ve been told this about my memoir and it stings. Even if the criticism isn’t cruel, I can sometimes take it as a personal attack.
It takes strength to listen to both the positive and negative critiques in order to learn and grow from them creatively. Your mentors, or other creatives, may not get your vision. It takes additional courage to continue on with your unique technique and find your voice.
On my flash memoir piece that I sent out she gave me constructive criticism with things I hadn’t thought of AND helpful feedback. It felt great to share something so close to me that I’m clearly worried and sensitive about. It’s one step at a time. All I had to do was take the step.
Deep subjects take courage.
Are you writing books, or essays that touch on sensitive, hard-hitting, controversial subjects? I’ve been there and it’s difficult, depleting, and incredibly challenging.
Do you struggle sharing the writings of your heart and soul? Maybe you hold on to them- like I do. I’ve held on to my memoir for years not sharing it because I didn’t know how people would take it. Especially my adult kids.
A writer may wonder if you will be able to convey your message or if it will be lost on your readers. Maybe you worry they will get offended or they can’t process the information. Like many writers, I want to be heard and understood by my readers. My hope (even if I’m afraid) is that they will think critically about the issues I bring forward and possibly move them into action.
Are my words lost in translation? How could I know if I don’t send my baby out into the world? Even if the message gets lost in translation or upsets readers, having the nerve to stand by your words takes courage.
Putting it out there takes courage.
Full disclosure- I continually worry about how well my book will be received and worse, how I as a person will be received. There. I said it!
If I never put my memoir out there I’ll never know who it will change, or what my readers truly think about it.
My memoir sits in a drawer, on on my hard drive since losing the book deal, due to the publishing house going under. I felt like it was the universe telling me to put it away for awhile.
“It wasn’t meant to be”
That’s crap.
Being published through THAT publishing house wasn’t meant to be and thank goodness it didn’t happen. However, this doesn’t mean its a sign from the universe to tell me to stop trying to get it published.
Carrying on take courage.
Where am I at today? Honestly, I don’t know. Now that I’ve received feedback on my flash memoir piece I’ve decided to make the suggestions offered to me. I’m looking at places to submit it. That’s progress.
A good friend told me that I have to write essays for large publications in order to get noticed and get a memoir book deal. I pitched a story and it was accepted on spec. When I turned in the essay the editor ghosted me. I’ve never heard why they didn’t want to publish my story. I’ve received zero responses from the editor.
I assume they don’t want it. Ghosted rejections are the worst.
So, I’ve been licking my wounds.
And then I dove into writing a new novel.
There is power behind our words.
On a positive note, my adult kids love my memoir. It was rough for them to read, for sure, but they see things in a different light now and not all of it is bad.
As a writer, I should never forget the power behind words. There are books that have forever changed how I view the world. If writers kept their words to themselves my perspective of the world, or the issues they tackled in their prose wouldn’t have changed me.
This alone should be a huge lesson for me personally as a writer.
I must remember that words are powerful and so are the writers that pen them.
Writing and sharing your deep most inner thoughts is courageous.
CONCLUSION
So, this blog post is for me with a desire to become more courageous in my art.
Therefore, I must:
Continue to follow my dreams.
Listen to criticism both positive and negative and let it work for me and my art, not against both.
&
Sincerely realize deep subjects take courage to share and I must continually put this into practice by not giving up even when I’m rejected, or ghosted.
also
Go easier on myself and keep creating. Remember, creativity exists in the present moment.
Carry on dear artist.
