Write With Courage
Writer: Cameron Kent
I’ve given hundreds of speeches to book clubs and writing classes and I can’t count how many times I’ve heard someone say, in so many words, “I’ve started a novel, but I can’t seem to finish it.” There’s often an excuse attached to the admission; not enough time, writer’s block, dog ate my homework, etc. While some of those excuses may be valid, I believe the single biggest roadblock for any writer is fear. Fear of how your story and words are going to be received and reviewed. The easiest way to avoid facing those fears is to stop writing and let your wonderful novel or memoir gather dust after penning just three chapters.
The other component of fear is what you choose to add or delete from your story out of worry about who you might offend. While you certainly don’t want to burn every bridge with everyone in your circle, writing honestly is crucial to giving your story texture and heart. The more genuine emotion you can pull out of your personal experiences, even if painful, the better your writing will be.
While our writing styles and word choices are very different, the author I admire most is Pay Conroy. Most of his books, most notably The Great Santini, are fictional stories about real events in his life. Some of it was from his turbulent childhood, some of it from his days at the Citadel. Even though names and places were changed, Conroy knew that family and friends were going to recognize themselves in his fictional characters. And yet, he wrote it anyway. Fearless writing.
In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert bared her soul, knowing full well she was opening herself up to both high praise and harsh criticism. (I know this because she told me.) And yet, she wrote it anyway. Fearless writing. If you ever need to feel inspired, read Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. It’s no coincidence that the first chapter is entitled Courage.
As a storyteller, you have to continually remind yourself that you don’t write for them. You write for you. If it’s in your heart or in your head, you have to find the courage to get your story onto paper.
About the Writer
Cameron Kent is a 1979 graduate of Wake Forest University and a member of the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His sixth novel, The Oak Island Book Club, is getting 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads. His novels have been selected by over 40 book clubs and have twice been choses for “On the Same Page” community reading events. He’s had four original screenplays produced and aired on NBC, HBO, Lifetime, and at the American Film Institute. His Christmas musical, Welcome to Virginia, has been performed in community theaters across the country.
Website: cameronkent.com