For the next roundtable for authors, let's talk about that "Courageous Soul" Kate Chopin said an artist must possess.
In what ways have you found you had to be courageous as you became a writer? Is it something practical like just having the guts to try to make a living at it or something more cultural by using your work to make a statement?
L. Andrew Cooper: Writing anything for publication involves the possibility of ridicule and rejection and so always requires courage, but beyond that, the amount of courage you need relates to how much of yourself you're willing to expose and what other chances you're willing to take. I believe the best writing involves risk, so it requires a lot of courage.
Ef Deal: The only "courage" I needed to summon was to keep writing although I never sold or made a cent out of it for over 25 years. My husband resented it immensely, but he was someone who'd been paid to play since he was 9 years old. He was impressed that I had a rejection from Lester DelRey, and that I chatted or hobnobbed with writers he knew, but I don't think he ever thought anything would come of my writing until it actually did a few years ago. I never considered it courage, though. I just couldn't not write.
Brian K Morris: A little of all of them. I realized early on that if I wanted to carve a portion of the market for my work, it had to sound like me. I could sound like it was from a store of knowledge I'd amassed, or a point of view. I believe ANY opportunity to expose your inner workings, especially your heart, leaves you vulnerable and should be approached with derring-do.
Sheela Chattopadhyay: While I might not care much for Kate Chopin's works, I can understand her "Courageous Soul" concept. Taking the risks of being exposed to criticism, authenticity, and integrity are all part of the creative processes for any type of artist. Any artist being defined as working in any type of medium, whether that be writing to music to paint to architecture, etc. I specify that because even your architect has some artistry in the field since science and art do go hand in hand. That being said, building up courage often relies on trusting yourself and your own belief in your creative works.
I found that courage is necessary in general to be able to be oneself. Some of it was practical in wanting to become a better communicator and being able to connect with people better. While I sometimes make a statement with some of my work, I do sometimes have other works that are to help others grow as individuals. I try to leave people better than I found them.
Sean Taylor: I think it's both, at least for me. There will always be the courage of putting myself out there as a writer and finding readers to pick up what I'm laying down (so to speak). But I also believe that, as a friend reminded me today, all art is political, and well, we live in a time when art is under attack, particularly art that doesn't fit a strict and confining definition. Anything that goes beyond a conservative, backward ideal or takes a more critical look at United State politics and culture now seems to be suspect and suspicious and likely to be censored in the days to come, so the pushback is there to only create "safe" art. But I'm not that writer.
Do you find that courage becomes more "old hat" and just part of your personality as a writer after a while, or do you still feel the butterflies when you put it out there for public consumption and critique?
Sheela Chattopadhyay: While courage often becomes more of an "old hat" habit over time if practiced and followed through often, I still have moments of butterflies from time to time. It's just that the butterflies don't overtake the action of following through.
L. Andrew Cooper: Facing rejection becomes easier on some levels, so that kind of courage gets a little old hat... but I've got two books coming out this month, each really out there in its own way, and I don't remember the butterfly count being higher 25 years ago when I started sending stuff out...
Bobby Nash: Oh, butterflies, for sure. With every story I turn in, I'm convinced this will be the one where they realize I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
Sean Taylor: Courage, for me, is built into my DNA. Whether it was standing up the Southern Baptist Convention and losing my job, leaving a nowhere job to take a risk to record an album with a band in the 1990s, or standing up in my work for the ideals and values I believe, I've never been one to back away from a stance or a fight. Of course that means I don't always stand on solid, safe, secure ground. But I can't help but take the risk.
What advice do you have for new writers to find that courage to create and share their stories?
L. Andrew Cooper: If you don't feel compelled to create, maybe you shouldn't. But if you've got the compulsion, give into it. Then you'll have the stories. And since you have them, you might as well learn all you can about making them as good as they can be. And once you've done that, you might as well share them with others. You might make them happy and improve your own life in the process. And if you don't make them happy? Too bad for them. You've got more stories to write.
Bobby Nash: Not great advice. You just have to roll the dice and take your chances. A thick skin helps. Those who don't like what you do will happily tell you they don't. Most who like it, you'll never hear from.
Sean Taylor: Be you. Period. Write the stories you're driven to write. Share the ideals you're compelled to share. Get on the soapboxes you are led to step onto. Develop a thick skin and step up.
Sheela Chattopadhyay: Working on your relationship with yourself can greatly improve your sense of courage. Finding role model examples and surrounding yourself with courageous, supportive individuals can go a long way in developing this from within. All changes like this come from within yourself, just like the stories that you have to tell.
Brian K Morris: At the end of the day, it's just words on paper (or ones and zeroes). As long as you feel the story needs to be told, do so fearlessly.
No comments:
Post a Comment