I won't go into a review of her review, but I recommend everyone should read it. Critical understanding creates better writing. Julie has it figured out.
Rarely do I see the movie before reading the book. But my daughter has my book, and I had the opportunity to see the movie first, so I did. As we all know, the book is always better... so I'm looking forward to reading this novel as I loved the movie.
What I loved most about the movie was the message to writers:
Do not run in fear of what you write.
For me this was a huge message. If Kathryn Stockett, and the women she interviewed, were willing to break the law and face potential death... then who am I to fear of losing my job? Integrity and being willing to stand up to what is wrong is worth the risk. If writers don't do this, who will? How will people know when change is needed?
What are you afraid of?
As writers we have an obligation to face the fear and write the truth.
Why do we write? Sometimes it's to entertain, but often it's to inform.
Writing takes courage, among other things. Quite honestly, I feel that writing has taken over my life. More than a passion... an obsession. I love it. Perhaps it's time to give my life to it, too.
Go forward without fear. If something needs to be changed, write about it. Kathryn Stockett did. She made a difference with her writing. Will you?
Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene
It does take courage! Making a difference? That's a wonderful goal. I think we can all make a difference with our writing, if not to the greater world all at once, then starting with ourselves. Your question, 'what am you afraid of,' as a source of material, seems like the essence of good writing. Thanks for such a thought-provoking post, Karlene.
ReplyDeleteThat's beautiful. From such fearless writing amazing things are born and lives are changed. That's what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteKarlene, your post gave me chills! I read an interview with Stockett, where she said that if she'd known how huge her book would be, she probably would have done things differently (like the dialect, which you'll notice when you read the book). But had she done that, it would have been so different, and not quite as fearless. But you're so right...we should face our fears and write what matters to us.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks so much for mentioning my post :D *hugs*
Wow, Karlene,
ReplyDeleteThat was some post. Like Julie, it gave me chills too. Facing fears IS what writer's do. Not only with just writing, but sending our words out into the world to be judged by all.
IT takes a LOT of guts to do that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Karlene! IT's been too long. Your first post in 2012 is certainly a memorable one. May all the fears we face turn out happily for us.
We live in very turbulent times, so we must be strong, we must face the inevitable, and we must trust in each other to do the RIGHT thing.
I hope we get to meet this year. With your insane schedule it will be difficult. Perhaps at a conference with Heather and Linda. You three are very special friends to me.
Thank you for the comment Linda! Yes, that's a good fear. So far, I have more sources of info than time to do anything with it. :0 Let's go forward into that fear!
ReplyDeleteHeather, that is so true! Let's create amazing things with our fear eating our dust!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I bet that was a fascinating interview. I'm looking forward to the book. And, your post should be mentioned more often. I love everything you write! Thank you for sharing your writers wisdom!
ReplyDeleteAh Michael, Thank you! That is so true about being fearless with our words... they are our inner souls and truths. Dreams. Fears. Imagination. The stories we write are who we are. That's showing a lot.
ReplyDeleteYes... we will meet this year! It's a plan for sure! Happiest of New Years to you too!
Thank you, thank you! You articulated what I've been trying to say from my older branch on the tree. I do not - repeat, do not - understand all this talk about insecurity and fear and so on. I sometimes think the U.S. is addicted to negativity, the worse the better. Ohhhh, but that's got to change.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is amazing. Write on!