The 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.