Eleven years ago I did a brave thing.
Typically, I don't consider myself a brave person. I don't seek adrenaline-filled opportunities like skydiving or bull riding. But I do have three kids. So there's that.
But as I examine my writing career, I realize I've done many brave things. I suspect you have, too. If you're early in your writing career, plan to do brave things. Little things. Big things. Brave things.
Want to examine some of my brave acts with me? (You can judge for yourself just how brave they were.)
First Writing Course
After being a stay-at-home-mom for years, I told my husband I wanted to take a writing class through our local library. Our youngest was young, maybe two or three years old. The class lasted eight weeks if I remember right. It didn't really disrupt our routines because I did the classwork (for the first course and the ones that followed) during naptime. Probably not that brave. But, it was still new and strange...and I let my family know I wanted to improve my writing and maybe be more than a blogger.
Pitched Magazines
One of those writing classes was about writing for magazines. I pitched many articles. A few were published. I am still proud of an article I wrote about my husband's 91-year-old grandfather which I wrote for a regional farming magazine. (Not surprisingly, if you knew Grandpa, the editor knew exactly who Grandpa was when I pitched the article.)
First Writing Conference
There's nothing like an in-person writing conference! I attended my first one in June 2025. (Yes, that was the brave thing 11 years ago.) It can feel awkward, but it's important to attend in-person conferences. Honestly, it's more about learning and meeting other writers than about meeting editors or agents (though they can be important, too).
This writing conference was one of my bravest things I have EVER done because I actually drove into the Bronx to attend. (I'm a country girl, if you didn't know.) I did get lost on the way. I did get beeped at. A lot. But I made it!
Submit on Repeat
It takes tough skin to deal with the repeated rejection we get as writers. It first comes from agents/editors passing on our work. (Or silently never even replying to our queries.) Later it shows up as negative book reviews.
Speak
There was a time I was terrified of public speaking (all through high school and college and even beyond).
I shook. I sweat. I stammered. I hated it.
I would have paid good money to avoid public speaking. Then.
But somewhere along the line, I asked my local library if they'd be interested in me teaching a blogging class. To adults. I volunteered to do this because I knew I had a skill that others wanted (at that time). And I loved it. Then I shared for ten minutes at my Bible study. And the ladies were encouraged. (Or at least they encouraged ME with their feedback of what I shared.) I learned the words that I had been sharing on paper and screen could effectively be communicated from my own mouth to adults as long as I prepared a lot in advance.
Now I teach adults (and kids) regularly. Sometimes it's at a writing workshop. Sometimes it's at MomCo (formerly MOPS). Sometimes it at a church. Sometimes it's at an educator conference. I keynoted at a literacy conference last year. And I've been asked to keynote again this year by the same folks at a different conference. (*I was a classroom teacher. I was always comfortable in front of students. I was never comfortable in front of adults.)
Those first times may have taken bravery. Now it's just fun to meet others and encourage them! And now I get paid to do it.
Field Research
I love hands-on research.
I'm not too spontaneous, but when I called the Almanzo Wilder Homestead with a question, I quickly realized I needed to get there (though all my questions were answered). And they were about to close down for the fall and winter season. With some phone calls, I think I headed out that same day so I could arrive at the farm the next morning. You can read about that Almanzo Wilder research trip here.
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| My blog is now called WilderCompanion.com. |
Can knowledge make you brave? I think so.
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Keep Going
The publishing world is hard. So I work hard. I am always learning. Always trying to help others.
It takes time.
Writing also takes humility.
I wish I could know two months into a project instead of two years (or four) if it is a good idea and worthy of pursuit. But sometimes we have to be brave and chase the idea. And sometimes we have to be brave and put away one project before it's done so we can begin a new one.
Be Brave, Writer
My brave acts and your brave acts of writing might look completely different. But I'd love to hear about you.
What brave things have you done?
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