writing book

Courage & Craft

Posted on by Wendy Kennar

A month ago, I wrote about one of the bracelets I had recently purchased from the Little Words Project. (If you missed that post, “Strong AF,” you can read it by clicking here.)

Strong AF was only one of the bracelets I had ordered for myself. 

I also bought another bracelet at the time. A custom design. The bracelet reads, “Courage&Craft.”

Courage and Craft is the title of a writing craft book written by the late Barbara Abercrombie. 

I bought the book when it was released in 2007. I was pregnant with my son when my husband and I went to the book launch event at the now-closed Dutton’s Brentwood Books. 

In the book’s introduction, Barbara wrote:

“Writing is about discovering who you really are, where you’ve been, and where you’re headed. It’s about turning the messy, crazy, wonderful, and sad stuff in your life into something that has order and clarity and meaning — a piece of writing that other people can connect to and be moved by.”

Writing, specifically writing well, requires craft. Understanding how to put words down on a page. How to craft sentences from those words, paragraphs from those sentences, pages from those paragraphs.

And more than that, writing — specifically, writing authentically — requires courage.

Barbara wrote:

“It takes courage to write down what you think and feel. But if you don’t figure out a way to get past the fear and write the truth, what are you ever going to write about? Even if camouflaged by fiction, you’ll be writing some truth of your own reality.”

It is this definition of courage that I keep in my heart:

“Courage doesn’t mean sudden, miraculous strength of character; it means doing something difficult despite the fear.”  

For me, that definition does not only apply to writing, but to life as well. 

My bracelet is a way of honoring Barbara. 

It’s also a way of honoring myself — the hard work I do on a regular basis. The work of taking twenty-six letters (that’s it, just twenty-six letters!) and re-arranging those letters in such a way that an idea that first lived in my heart and my mind can be brought to the page and shared with others. 

Friends, do you have a phrase that helps you stay motivated? A phrase that represents your creative life? I’d love to know!

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.

Heart. Soul. Pen.

Posted on by Wendy Kennar

I don’t think I’ll ever “finish” learning about writing. The longer I write, the more certain I am that there is always something new to discover— about the process and the craft, but also, about myself. 

Which is why I enjoy reading craft books.

I recently finished reading Heart. Soul. Pen.: Find Your Voice on the Page and in Your Life by Robin Finn. It’s a great title, because for me, that is what writing comes down to — parts of my heart and soul transcribed onto paper.  

Whether you are a writer looking to get your super personal words out and onto the page, or you are a woman searching for the confidence to speak your truth, Ms. Finn’s book is for you. 

From the Introduction: “Every part of you is invited — the pretty parts and the ugly parts, the happy parts and the painful parts, the noisy parts, and the quiet parts. You are invited regardless of your age, stage, marital status, or any other status. You get an A+ in this class just for showing up. Your writing is welcome here, whether it spills out loud and shouted, or tiptoes forward soft and coaxed. Together, we are entering a safe space where we can fully and radically express ourselves.”

This week, I share with you some highlights from the book:

“The messages we receive as kids get lodged inside of us and become lifelong, limiting beliefs that impact how we live, work, write, create, show up in our lives, and relate to ourselves and others. These beliefs limit us from experiencing who we truly are. They keep us small. They keep us from sharing our full expression in the world.”  (Sound familiar? It did for me.)

“HEART. SOUL. PEN. is a step-by-step process designed to help you reclaim your voice, tell your story, and embrace the indisputable value of your life experience and creative self-expression.” 

“Writing at its best helps us connect to each other and feel less isolated in our individual lives.” (I love this!)

“If you are waiting for someone else to offer you time to write, you may be waiting a long time. Taking time for yourself is not selfish. It is self-honoring. You are worthy of your own time to connect to your voice, express yourself, and process your world through writing.” (I love that term — “self-honoring.”)

“… the success of a regular writing practice is less about how much writing you get done, and more about how you approach your commitment to writing.”

“Writing is a process that takes time and effort. It is important to find moments to acknowledge yourself and celebrate your effort. You can celebrate making time for self-expression when you sit down to write in your journal. You can acknowledge that writing is a form of self-care and a gift you give to yourself. Recognizing your hard work and your commitment may sound easy. But, for many women, it is outside their comfort zone.”

And perhaps my favorite section of the book, something I will return to over and over, are Ms. Finn’s “Ten Truths You Need to Know about Yourself as a Writer.”

A question for my writer-friends — Do you enjoy reading craft books? What was the last writing-related book you read? Please share!

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.