Do Writers Need Courage?

 

Writers need a lot of different traits. Knowledge of the craft is beneficial. A passion for writing is helpful. Time to write is essential. What about courage?

I think that courage is one of the most essential traits a writer should have. It's not easy to send your writing to an editor or press in hopes of publication. Some may think that's a silly statement, but believe me, it does take courage to submit your work to a publisher. Why?

No one wants to be rejected. If it happens over and over again, the writer has to have the courage to continue submitting. The only people who understand what being rejected makes a writer feel like is another writer. Their family and friends come up with a "Oh, that's too bad." or "I'm sorry to hear that." Then they go back to their lives, but the writer is still smarting. 

Is there any writer who does not react in some negative way to a rejection? If so, they are in the minority. Newbie writers can be devastated by a rejection, while seasoned writers are disappointed but move on. As we send out more and more of our writing for publication, we develop a thicker skin, and the rejections are not as upsetting as when we first started our writing life. That 'move on' bit is important.

Do you need courage to stand up in front of other writers and read something you've written? Many writing conferences offer time for a Read-Around. It's easy for some writers to participate, but others have a hard time standing before a group and reading what they've written. For them, it takes courage. Once they agree to read a few times, it becomes easier. 

Another time a writer needs courage is when an editor returns a submission saying they might want to publish the piece if the writer will make some changes. What if the changes are big ones? Ones that change the entire mood of the piece, or take away some of the writer's favorite parts? Will the writer have the courage to say no to some of the changes? That's taking a chance that the editor will not publish the piece. It depends on how strong the writer feels about making the changes. 

Some writers need courage to market themselves as a writer. I've often heard people say something like "Writing is the easy part, but marketing and then selling myself is tough." A lot here depends on the kind of personality the writer has. Outgoing people have little problem in promoting themselves and their work. Those who are more introverted need to gather every bit of courage they have to market themselves and their work to others. 

Some writers are baring their soul in personal essays or poems. That's not easy to do, especially at the beginning of a writing life. One thing to keep in mind is that perhaps your writing will be of help to someone who reads it, or it will touch them in some way. It takes courage to put your personal thoughts in writing and share with others. 

Yes, writers do need to have courage or to develop it as their writing life moves along. It's one of many traits that can help a writer'