Finally back to blogging after a work-induced hiatus. The heading of this post comes from an excellent new book of short stories by my good friend Michael Hyde. It occurred to me last night after reading a chapter on "Putting Fear to Work" from Ralph Keyes's The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear that this would make a great writing prompt. As Keyes points out, fear is a source of tension, energy, urgency that can bring you close to the heart of your writing.
So I tried it. There are so many things I am afraid of, many of them specifically related to writing. As I embark on this memoir project, putting my toes in the water, I am filled with fear. I am afraid I won't measure up in prose, having concentrated so much on poetry. I'm afraid I won't be able to do justice to my experience in the writing. I'm afraid I won't have enough time and energy to really make it work. I'm afraid of what people will think if I write how I really feel about Stella's disability, and all the issues it brings up. And I suppose I'm afraid it won't matter to enough readers, or matter enough to readers, or whatever.
Well, I suppose the only way to deal with all of this is to "Write it!" (like disaster, says Elizabeth Bishop).
What are you afraid of?
3 comments:
Honey, this is just to say--I am really excited about your memoir project. Maybe having these questions and fears up front, not just barging in, will focus rather than paralyze you; I hope so. I am sure it will matter enough to people, and matter to enough people--and that many people will benefit from hearing how you feel about Stella's disability. I am sure of these things.
Thank you so much, Em, for your encouragement. (For some reason, I couldn't access the comment earlier today) Your sureness and telling me this helps me start to feel sure. It flickers on and off, you know? This is such a boost. Hope I can do the same for you, grlfrien' xo
Good to see blogs about writing. Interesting stuff
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