5 Books to Inspire You When You Need to Be Brave in Your Writing and Your Life
Where to Find Inspiration and Guidance for Breaking Through Your Limiting Beliefs as a Writer (and a Human)
Writing is always an act of bravery. It can be an act of bravery simply to put words onto a page (or screen) and acknowledge your own thoughts, but it’s even braver to share those thoughts, ideas and stories with the world-at-large. If you’re reading this, then you surely know that sharing your writing almost always brings up feelings of vulnerability. And, to paraphrase the brilliant Dr. Brené Brown, there’s nothing that’s braver than being vulnerable.
I’ve worked with a lot of new writers who struggle with imposter syndrome, self-limiting beliefs, inner critics and any number of emotional or psychological blocks that they must overcome as they write. But I’ve also learned it’s not only new writers who feel this.
I’ll never forget speaking with one NYT bestselling author whose books I’d read and loved. Yet they shared they were working on a new story and had been wondering if now was the right time for their particular stories…that doubt creeping in even after so many years of success. You know what else? That wasn’t even the last time I heard a sentiment like that from an author who had already achieved great publishing success. As it turns out, writers never stop needing to be brave, so it’s good to start building up that muscle now.
Because, as I’ve been telling my kids for years, being brave is being scared but doing the scary thing anyway. But sometimes we need a little extra encouragement. I’ve found one of the best ways to hype yourself up with positive messaging is through (what else?) books.
Here are a few of my favorites for finding inspiration and borrowing courage when it comes to writing, creating, and living your life bravely and boldly…
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead by Dr. Brené Brown
I’d add it can transform how we write, too! Through her many bestselling books, highly viewed TED Talks and specials, Dr. Brown has reframed how we think about vulnerability, teaching us that we need to embrace it as a sign of strength and bravery. I’ve read many of her books, but I return to this one again and again whenever I need a reminder to ignore the critical voices and focus on what’s important to me no matter what the naysayers may say.
Favorite quote: “Rather than sitting on the sidelines and hurling judgment and advice, we must dare to show up and let ourselves be seen.”
Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead by Tara Mohr
Like Daring Greatly, this isn’t a book that’s specifically geared toward writers, but it is about learning to use and own your voice, which is certainly helpful when you’re worrying if what you have to say even matters. Mohr reminds us that women, in particular, are socialized to make ourselves smaller rather than making anyone else uncomfortable with what we have to say. She offers practical tactics for helping us shed what we’ve internalized. I even keep a list of what she calls “undermining speech habits” on my desk to be sure to remove the “justs” and “kind ofs” from my emails.
Favorite quote/lesson: “After working with thousands of women, I know that every woman has an incredible inner mentor inside of her, a voice that has the just-right-for-her answers at every turn. She simply needs to learn how to discover this voice and to be reminded to access it regularly, until that becomes her habitual way of doing things.”
Write On, Sisters! Voice, Courage and Claiming Your Place at the Table by Brooke Warner
Author, publishing industry expert and founder of She Writes Press, Warner writes a powerful manifesto that examines how women in our society are subtly and blatantly discouraged from using our voice historically, culturally, even emotionally, as well as how we may internalize this messaging. Warner provides practical insights and suggestions for how women writers can recognize and push back on that discouragement, whether external or internal.
Favorite quote: “When you’re feeling vulnerable, it’s hard to imagine the motivations others might have to silence you, to bash the genre you’re writing in, or even simply to pooh-pooh your creative efforts….Remind yourself that all critical messages are other people’s stuff.”
Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky
Author and leading voice in the equity movement, Brodsky emphasizes that for women it’s not enough to know we want to create. We need to claim the time and space to do it, especially if we’re married and/or mothers. Brodsky provides practical suggestions for figuring out how, including advising readers to “pre-negotiate untouchable space and time” with your partner and children, with guidance for how to approach these conversations.
Favorite quote: “Using your voice to assert your right to a more creative life is essential and how you voice it is key.”
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
A list on being brave in your writing wouldn’t be complete without Gilbert’s book on finding the courage and inspiration to create and keep creating. She inspires with examples from her own life and others but also includes exercises for breaking through your own self-limiting beliefs.
Favorite quote: “Too many women still seem to believe they are not allowed to put themselves forward at all, until both they and their work are beyond criticism.”
One last tip: All but one of these books has an accompanying audiobook narrated by the author, which can be like channeling these insightful individuals as your own personal cheerleaders directly whispering words of wisdom into your ear. For books I really love, I frequently buy the audiobook too and listen to my favorite parts when I need a quick hit of inspiration and bravery.
What is your go-to inspiration when you need a little bravery boost in your writing? Please share in the comments as I’m always looking for more!
Heather Garbo is a certified book coach, editor and writer with a background in communications, book publishing, and nonprofit work. Heather specializes in working with women’s fiction writers who are discovering (or rediscovering) their writing voice in midlife. Find her at www.garbobookcoaching.com.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase a book by clicking on that link, I may earn a small commission.
I wasn't aware of Find Your Unicorn Space, but adding that to my TBR list pronto! Great list!
Putting these on my TBR!