Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear

Katherine Anne Porter called courage “the first essential” for a writer. E.B. White said that he admired anyone who “has the guts to write anything at all.” In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of “courage points” through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article. Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public “performance” and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works. This invaluable book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn how to write well.

Ralph Keyes is the co-author of Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: Managing Innovation in a Changing Economy. His ten other books include The Wit and Wisdom of Oscar Wilde and The Wit and Wisdom of Harry Truman.

Katherine Anne Porter called courage “the first essential” for a writer. E.B. White said that he admired anyone who “has the guts to write anything at all.” In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of “courage points” through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article. Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public “performance” and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works. This invaluable book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn how to write well.

“Fresh and startlingone of the two or three best books on writing Ive ever read.”John Jakes, author of North and South

“Anyone who is a writer, wants to be a writer, or knows a writer will want to pick up a copy of The Courage to Write. It is one of the best books about the writing profession ever published.”The Fresno Bee

"Keyes, a widely experienced writer and teacher of writing himself, confronts the major component of fear in every writer's life as most writing courses never do. He shows that while the writer's anxietiesof unearthing unsavory truths about oneself, of exposing oneself to ridicule, of hurting trusting friendscannot be overcome, they can be harnessed and used to develop serious, powerful writing. Neither preachy nor judgmental, but written by one writer speaking to others, Keyes uses a wealth of contemporary writers from Margaret Atwood to E.B. White as examples, first to identify writers' most common fears, then to discuss how writers have successfully grappled with them. Strong on theory and written with rare directness and wit, his small book is above all practical. Highly recommended for anyone who writes, wants to write, or is taking a writing course."Charles C. Nash, Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, Library Journal

"Anxiety is commonly felt by writers at every level, prompting the courage to write and resulting in blocks and obstacle points which ultimately produce better results from aspiring authors. This gathers insights on how to use writer's workshops, techniques of successful writers, and other strategies to produce excellent results."Midwest Book Review

“Heres practical and positive advice that can help every writer capitalize on anxiety instead of knuckling under to it. Writers not only need this bookthey know they need it.”Judith Applebaum, author of How to Get Happily Published

"Keyes here suggests that writerly anxiety is an inevitable and necessary part of the writing process. Drawing on his own experience and that of others, he explores the varieties of anxieties, for example, 'page fright'; the pitfalls of putting family and friends into print; and the tension between fear of self-exposure and thirst for attention. In the book's second half, he explores both harnessing and 'finessing' fear, arguing that 'inner conviction' is more important than technique. He surveys authors' tics and tricks to get started and the question of circulating works-in-progress. Many writing problems 'are really courage problems,' Keyes concludes, after suggesting that too many good writers give up too soon."Publishers Weekly

Katherine Anne Porter called courage "the first essential" for a writer. "I have to talk myself into bravery with every sentence," agreed Cynthia Ozick, "sometimes every syllable." E. B. White said he admired anyone who "has the guts to write anything at all."An author who has taught writing for more than thirty years, Ralph Keyes assures readers that anxiety is felt by writers at every level and can be harnessed to produce honest and disciplined work., Keyes offers specifics on how to make the best use of writers' workshops and conferences and how to handle criticism of works in progress; he also exposes the most common "false fear busters" (needing new equipment, a better setting, a new agent). Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers--Pat Conroy, Amy Tan, Rita Dove, Isabel Allende, and others--on how they transcended their own anxieties to produce great works.

Katherine Anne Porter called courage “the first essential” for a writer. E.B. White said that he admired anyone who “has the guts to write anything at all.” In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of “courage points” through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article. Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public “performance” and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers’ workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works. This invaluable book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn how to write well.

Ralph Keyes is the co-author of Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: Managing Innovation in a Changing Economy. His ten other books include The Wit and Wisdom of Oscar Wilde, and The Wit and Wisdom of Harry Truman.