HIlton Als, in his letter to Rachel Weisz featured in the Styles section of yesterday’s Sunday Times wrote:
“While talent or a lack thereof is certainly a factor when it comes to all this, what separates the true artist from the artist in name only, is a certain fearlessness, the ability to put one foot in front of the other without exactly knowing where they will land but trusting that the imprint they make will be distinctive, and look real in an imaginary world.”
Those words made me sit up straighter in my chair as I read them this morning. I’m two and a half months shy of my memoir Too Much of Not Enough coming to market and feeling the in-between-ness of having written and about to be more known.
Throughout the nearly five year process from concept to publication, it was that certain fearlessness that kept me going.
What is there to fear in writing of any kind? Let me count the ways:
- Showing up in front of the blank page.
- Sharing your writing with others.
- Hiring an editor.
- Reviewing the edits.
- Making the necessary changes in your manuscript.
- Telling people you’re a writer. (This might be #1.)
- Submitting your writing to agents, editors and/or publishers.
- Opening their responses once they’ve read your stuff.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. My premise, particularly as a coach, is that having that certain fearlessness is the stuff of great success. In my experience, it is not accomplished alone. “It takes a village” applies not only to bringing up children, but also to bringing your creativity into the world.
Jane, my book will be coming out in September. Diamonds and Scoundrels: My Life in the Jewelry Business is all about fearlessness. Yes! Just go for it!
Warm regards — wishing you great success!
Adrienne
Have I been fearless? No, not at all. But I’ve been creative anyway… writing mostly. Been doing it now over 40 years and it still scares me sometimes, and still I write. Then I rewrite. And that scares me too.
@Anne Thank you for commenting! You may not claim to be fearless, but it doesn’t sound like fear has gotten in your way at all. Congrats on 40 years of writing!! Amazing!
When I’m riding one of those waves of fearlessness, everything feels so energized and alive. So magnificent. And then, at some point, the wave crashes and the gremlins start shouting. Argh! Eventually I crawl out of the darkness, the fuzzy place, and get back to the light…inspired by women friends and people like you, Jane, modeling fearlessness and vulnerability and perseverance. Thanks for flourishing away! Looking forward to your book!
@Sandy Thank you! I, too, ride those waves and look to others who are currently flourishing. N.B. NO ONE is ALWAYS flourishing. We take turns.