creative writing about brave

15 Writing Prompts about being Brave

Staring at a blank page can be daunting. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old school notepad or a shiny computer screen.

The simple act of capturing that first word, sentence, and paragraph can take an amazing amount of fortitude and courage. 

Being brave doesn’t mean making a fist, it is about having the moral courage to stand up for what is right, what is just. Bravery means having the mental toughness to persevere, to go forward, to face the unknown.

How To Use Prompts To Jumpstart Your Writing

Below is a list of writing prompts to get your creative brain churning.

These prompts are meant to give you a kernel of an idea and start your first sentence. The first act of bravery is writing the first word of your story. 

Choose a starter and add your thoughts. Let the words flow, the flow will take you far in your writing journey. Forget about punctuation, spelling, and grammar — just write — get it down.

Then, when you have a jumble of thoughts written out, go back, edit, rewrite, and edit again. Your story will shine through, and you will take your reader on an exciting journey.

Start Writing About Being Brave

• What will happen if I don’t… We find ourselves in difficult situations where moral conviction meets at a crossroad with following the crowd. 
• Can I look myself in the mirror if I… If I take this action, how will I feel tomorrow when I look into my own eyes.
• The first time I said I’m sorry… Apologizing for your actions takes courage, it makes you vulnerable. We know it is the right thing to do, but it is still hard.
• A simple act of kindness led to… Sometimes something as simple as holding the door for someone can be an act of bravery.
• She took a stand against… So many options: bullying, racism, injustice, equality, the list is endless.
• I changed my mind… Stubbornness and stoicism can lock us into a box, breaking free takes courage. 
• He followed his heart… This one can take you to an adventure that defies logic.
• I followed my head… Sometimes it takes more courage to not follow your every whim.
• Courage is when… Defined as having moral and mental fortitude.
• He was afraid, but… Facing doubt and conquering fear requires amazing courage.
• I have a plan to… Bravery doesn’t need to be spontaneous, attacking a problem step-by-step gives you conviction and confidence.
• It takes bravery to… Fill in the blank here — speak your mind, stand up for someone, do the right thing, etc.
• My biggest fear is… Define your fear, facing it takes courage, the journey is the story.
• It is hard to imagine a life without… your family, home, friends, love, etc. 
• She took one, tiny step… imperfect action and a hero’s desire to reach their goal makes the perfect story.

Every great writer needs ideas; and prompts are the perfect way to get started. Sometimes all we need is a few structured words to get us off and running.

We are dedicated to sharing ideas and resources with fellow writers, teachers, and students.

Our website is chock-full of free resources for your use and to share with friends and colleagues. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in the world of writing. 

Feel free to contact us and share your ideas for new resources we could provide that would make your creative life easier.

Happy Writing!

Thanks, Matt & Hayley

How to Describe a Brave Person in Writing (21 Tips + Examples)

Bravery can be one of the most challenging characteristics to depict in writing.

The courage of a character has to shine through their actions, beliefs, and emotional strength.

Here is how to describe a brave person in writing:

Describe a brave person in writing by showcasing their actions, emphasizing unshakeable beliefs, defying odds, and highlighting emotional strength. Use words like courageous, fearless, and intrepid. Describe their resilience, persistence, and optimism. Bravery can be loud or quietly resilient.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to describe bravery in writing.

1. Unflinching Eyes

Table of Contents

The eyes are windows to the soul, and they can reveal much about a character’s bravery.

An unflinching gaze often denotes courage, especially when faced with adversity. It demonstrates a brave person’s willingness to stand their ground, regardless of the situation.

It is the look of someone who refuses to back down, even when things get tough.

This feature can be especially useful in intense or dangerous scenes, where a brave character’s unflinching gaze can dramatically highlight their courage.

For example:

When challenged, her eyes held an unflinching gaze. Even in the face of certain doom, they never wavered, radiating a fierce determination.

2. Shoulders of Steel

The way a character carries themselves can say a lot about their bravery.

A character with “shoulders of steel” doesn’t physically shrink under pressure or in the face of fear.

They maintain a straight posture and meet challenges head-on, symbolizing their inner strength and determination.

Physical characteristics like these allow readers to visualize bravery, giving it a tangible, easily understood form.

He carried himself with an unwavering, upright posture, his shoulders of steel never drooping. Even amidst the chaos, he seemed unafraid, meeting the disaster with unyielding resolve.

3. Voice of Conviction

Brave characters often have a “voice of conviction.”

They speak up when others don’t, and their voice does not waver, even when expressing unpopular opinions or standing up for others.

They use their voice as a weapon against injustice and fear, their convictions serving as their shield.

This can be a powerful way to convey bravery through dialogue, painting a vivid picture of a courageous character through their words.

Her voice echoed in the silent room, a resounding chord of bravery in the face of despair. “I will not stand down,” she declared, her voice of conviction clear and unyielding.

4. Adventurous Actions

Brave characters are often adventurers at heart.

They are the first to volunteer for a dangerous mission, or to dive into the unknown.

Their actions reflect their adventurous spirit and willingness to take risks, even when the outcome is uncertain.

This tip is all about “showing” rather than “telling”.

By portraying your character’s brave actions, you allow readers to infer their courage.

With a bold grin, he leapt into the raging river, his adventurous actions defying the peril that lay ahead. He was a whirlwind of bravery, each move radiating courage.

5. Fearless Fashion

How a character dresses can say a lot about their personality, and in this case, their bravery.

A character who chooses bold, unconventional, or even intimidating fashion may be signaling their fearlessness and unique outlook on life.

This adds a subtle, visual cue to your character’s brave nature, offering readers a concrete image of their courage.

She strode into the room, her outfit as bold as her spirit. The spike-encrusted leather jacket and fiery red boots spoke volumes of her fearless fashion and the bravery she embodied.

6. Daring Determination

Bravery isn’t just about physical feats or bold words; it’s also about determination.

A character who persistently chases their dreams, regardless of the obstacles, displays a different but equally important kind of bravery.

Daring determination helps to humanize your brave character, making them more relatable to readers.

Despite the repeated failures and countless setbacks, he remained unyieldingly committed to his goal. His daring determination shone through, a beacon of bravery in the face of adversity.

7. Risk-Taker’s Resolve

A brave character often has a resolve that surpasses the average person.

They take risks that others wouldn’t, pushing boundaries and challenging norms. They see danger or fear not as deterrents but as opportunities to grow and learn.

Risk-Taker’s Resolve shows that bravery can be a lifestyle, not just a single act.

She plunged into the business world with nothing but her wit and will. Each risky investment, every gamble she took, reflected her risk-taker’s resolve and the bravery that lay at its core.

8. Selfless Spirit

Bravery often manifests as selflessness.

A character who regularly puts others before themselves, who is willing to sacrifice their own needs or safety for the sake of others, demonstrates a brave, selfless spirit.

This type of bravery resonates deeply with readers, painting your character as a hero in their own right.

In the burning building, he didn’t think twice. He ran back into the inferno, his selfless spirit shining brightly. His was the courage of a man who valued others’ lives above his own.

9. Confidence and Composure

A brave character often maintains their composure in stressful or threatening situations.

They project confidence, standing their ground and confronting fear head-on.

Confidence and composure signify an emotional and psychological aspect of bravery, deepening your character’s complexity.

She faced the hostile crowd with a calmness that took them aback. Her confident smile never faltered, her composure unbroken. It was the serene confidence of a woman unafraid to confront adversity.

10. Action Over Thought

Sometimes, bravery involves acting before thinking.

A character who dives into action, especially to help others, without stopping to consider the risks, exhibits a brave impulsivity.

This portrays your character as someone who values action over thought when bravery calls, adding dynamism and excitement to your narrative.

Seeing the child in danger, he didn’t hesitate. With a swift, uncalculated move, he darted into the busy street. It was an act of bravery, pure and uninhibited.

11. Unshakeable Beliefs

Bravery can be shown through a character who possesses unshakeable beliefs.

Whether it’s fighting for what’s right or standing firm in their convictions, this steadfastness in the face of opposition or adversity showcases their courage.

The portrayal of unshakeable beliefs adds depth and moral complexity to your character, enhancing their likability.

Despite the scorn he faced from his peers, his belief in equality remained steadfast. It was the unshakeable belief of a brave soul, unwilling to compromise his values.

12. Defying the Odds

Bravery is often associated with those who defy the odds.

A character who continues to strive and succeed against all expectations showcases an extraordinary form of bravery.

This is an effective tool for creating dramatic, memorable moments in your narrative.

With the odds stacked heavily against her, she never faltered. She defied every expectation, her success a testament to her defiant bravery.

13. Infectious Courage

Bravery isn’t always a solitary trait.

It can also inspire others. A character whose bravery uplifts those around them, encouraging them to be braver, possesses infectious courage.

This tip allows you to demonstrate not just the character’s bravery, but also its impact, amplifying its significance.

His bravery was infectious. His actions in the face of adversity inspired those around him, fueling their courage to stand up for what was right.

14. Quiet Resilience

Bravery doesn’t always have to be loud or flashy.

It can be seen in a character’s quiet resilience — their ability to weather hardships without complaint, pushing forward despite the difficulties they face.

Quiet resilience helps depict a subtler form of bravery, adding realism and relatability to your character.

She didn’t shout her bravery from the rooftops. Instead, it was her quiet resilience in the face of hardships that truly marked her as brave.

15. Conquering Fears

Bravery often comes from confronting and overcoming one’s fears.

A character who actively works to conquer their fears demonstrates growth and courage.

Conquering fears is a relatable way to showcase bravery, as everyone has fears they’d like to overcome.

He had always been terrified of heights. But there he was, standing on the edge of the cliff, ready to take the leap. It was a personal victory, a testament to his courage in conquering fears.

16. Persistent in Pursuit

Bravery can often be seen in the relentless pursuit of a goal.

A character who doesn’t give up, no matter how many times they stumble or how difficult the journey becomes, exhibits bravery in their persistence.

Persistence in pursuit adds a layer of determination and resolve to your character.

It shows their bravery extends beyond a single moment.

He fell, got back up, and continued his journey, each step resonating with bravery. His unwavering persistence in pursuit of his dream was a shining example of his courage.

17. In the Face of Fear

True bravery often comes out when a character is scared.

A character who acknowledges their fear but still takes action demonstrates a form of bravery that is both real and relatable.

This tip allows you to portray a nuanced view of bravery, one that recognizes courage is not the absence of fear.

But the ability to move forward despite it.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her palms sweaty with fear. But she didn’t let it stop her. She moved forward, her actions in the face of fear reflecting her profound bravery.

18. Emotional Strength

Bravery is not just about physical actions. It’s also about emotional strength.

A character who navigates emotional turmoil with grace, who remains strong for themselves and others, showcases a different kind of bravery.

By highlighting emotional strength, you add depth to your character’s bravery and make them more multi-dimensional.

Despite the world crashing around her, she held onto her emotional strength. Her ability to console others even while struggling herself was the true measure of her bravery.

19. Champion of Change

Bravery can often be found in those who champion change.

A character who dares to question the status quo and strives to make a difference exemplifies courage.

This shows that bravery can be influential, capable of sparking societal changes and challenging norms.

He stood at the forefront of change, fearlessly challenging outdated norms. His actions marked him as a brave champion of change, daring to imagine a better future.

20. Gentle Bravery

Bravery isn’t always about grand gestures.

Sometimes, it’s in the little acts of kindness, the gentle way a character supports others, and the compassion they exhibit. This gentle bravery is just as important as any daring act of heroism.

Gentle bravery humanizes your character, making their courage feel more intimate and everyday.

She was the first to offer help, the last to leave anyone in need. It was a softer kind of bravery, but bravery nonetheless.

21. Unyielding Optimism

Lastly, bravery can be seen in unyielding optimism.

A character who remains hopeful and positive, even in the direst situations, showcases a mental bravery that is both uplifting and inspiring.

Unyielding optimism paints your character as a beacon of hope, their bravery providing comfort and motivation to others.

Despite everything, his optimism never waned. It was a bright light in the darkness, a manifestation of his unyielding bravery.

30 Words to Describe a Brave Person

• Unflinching
• Unfaltering
• Perseverant
• Adventurous
• Lionhearted
• Stout-hearted
• Indomitable

30 Phrases to Describe a Brave Person

• Stands tall in the face of danger
• Has a heart of a lion
• Doesn’t back down easily
• Fights the good fight
• Never shies away from a challenge
• Walks through fire and comes out unscathed
• Treads where others fear to
• Stares down adversity
• Steps into the unknown without hesitation
• Keeps their cool under pressure
• Marches to the beat of their own drum
• Is a beacon of courage
• Holds their ground
• Dares to defy the odds
• Takes risks head-on
• Isn’t afraid to go against the grain
• Shows unyielding resolve
• Exhibits indomitable spirit
• Is a pillar of strength
• Displays unwavering conviction
• Upholds justice without fear
• Carries a torch of hope
• Shines in the darkest hour
• Unfaltering in the face of adversity
• Undeterred by obstacles
• Firmly rooted in their beliefs
• Always ready to leap into action
• Confronts their fears courageously
• Embraces challenges with open arms
• Boldly goes where no one has dared to before

Three Examples of Describing a Brave Person in Different Genres

Let’s look at three full examples of how to describe a brave person in writing.

These examples include a description of courageous characters in:

• Crime/thriller
• Romance/drama

Amidst the towering trees and shadowy underbrush of the enchanted forest, Galen stood firm.

His sword glowed eerily in the twilight, but his eyes held a stronger, fiercer light.

They were a beacon of audacity, glowing with the flame of a thousand battles fought. His broad shoulders were a testament to steel-like resolve, never yielding under the weight of his heavy armor or the looming threat of the beast.

Galen, the fearless warrior, was the embodiment of bravery, his every breath a battle cry in the silent forest.

Crime/Thriller

Detective Mara’s confident stride echoed in the dimly lit hallway of the abandoned warehouse.

Her sharp gaze scanned the shadows, fearlessly piercing the darkness.

Her pistol was steady in her grip, an extension of her unyielding resolve. She moved with the stealth of a panther, her every step a dare to her unseen adversary.

She was audacious, unflinching, the embodiment of courage amidst a tableau of danger.

In the underworld of crime, she was a beacon of justice, her bravery shining brighter than any badge.

Romance/Drama

In the crowded hall, Ana’s heart pounded in her chest like a wild drum.

But when she stepped onto the stage, all fear melted away.

She held the microphone with a firm grip, her eyes shining with determination. Her voice, when it rang out, was clear and steady, each note a testament to her unflinching bravery.

Singing her heart out in front of strangers, pouring out her emotions for all to hear, Ana was a lioness.

Her courage didn’t lie in grand gestures or heroic deeds.

It was in her vulnerability, her daring honesty, her beautiful bravery in baring her soul to the world.

Here is a good video about how to describe a brave person in writing:

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Brave Person in Writing

In the symphony of storytelling, bravery is the crescendo that moves the soul.

Let your characters dance to its tune and watch your narrative come alive with valor.

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50 Inspiring Quotes About Writing From the World’s Greatest Authors

Writing can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Learn from the masters of the craft.

BY GLENN LEIBOWITZ , CONTRIBUTOR, INC.COM   @ GLENNLEIBOWITZ

It’s never been a better time to be a writer  –or aspire to become one.

Platforms like LinkedIn , Medium, and WordPress have placed millions of dollars of technology, and the power that once only belonged to major publishing and media firms, into the hands of millions of writers  – entirely for free.

But technology can take a writer only so far. Writing is an art and a craft that needs to be developed through deliberate practice and study over a long period of time. Fortunately, some of the world’s greatest writers, the ones who mastered the craft and whose names have been passed down to us through time, gifted us not only with their stories. Many of them took time between the creation of their novels and short stories and poems to codify their writing philosophies, their writing strategies, and their writing habits.

Some of these authors recorded their thoughts on writing in books, some as essays, and some as letters to their friends, lovers, and editors.

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If you’re ever in need of inspiration or just want a few quick tips to help keep your words flowing onto the screen, just dip into the wisdom of these great authors. Here are 50 nuggets of writing wisdom from some of the greatest authors of all time:

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” –Madeleine L’Engle

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” –Stephen King

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” –Anaïs Nin

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” –Mark Twain

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” –Toni Morrison

“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” –Jack Kerouac, T he Dharma Bums

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” –Benjamin Franklin

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” –Saul Bellow

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” –Robert Frost

“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” –William Faulkner

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” –Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” –Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.” –Henry David Thoreau

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” –Anne Frank

“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” –Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades

“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.” –Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

“Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” –Kurt Vonnegut Jr., A Man Without a Country

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” –Franz Kafka

“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

“You can make anything by writing.” –C.S. Lewis

“A word after a word after a word is power.” –Margaret Atwood

“Tears are words that need to be written.” –Paulo Coelho

“You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.” –Annie Proulx

“Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, and then you do it for money.” –Virginia Woolf

“To survive, you must tell stories.” –Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before

“Always be a poet, even in prose.” –Charles Baudelaire

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” –Isaac Asimov

“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” –Albert Camus

“I write to discover what I know.” –Flannery O’Connor

“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” — John Steinbeck

“A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called ‘leaves’) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. One glance at it and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time–proof that humans can work magic.” — Carl Sagan

“Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish.” — Hermann Hesse

“Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing.” — Norman Mailer

“Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depth of your heart; confess to yourself you would have to die if you were forbidden to write.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.” — Ernest Hemingway

“A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” –Thomas Jefferson

“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can’t allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.”  –  Elmore Leonard

“Writers live twice.”  –  Natalie Goldberg

“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” — Herman Melville

“Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.” — Ayn Rand

“I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within.” — Gustave Flaubert

“Writing is its own reward.” — Henry Miller

“A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God.” — Sidney Sheldon

“I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.” — Erica Jong

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” — Douglas Adams

“Half my life is an act of revision.” — John Irving

“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” — William Faulkner

“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.” — A. A. Milne

“When you make music or write or create, it’s really your job to have mind-blowing, irresponsible, condomless sex with whatever idea it is you’re writing about at the time.” –Lady Gaga

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5 Powerful Words that Reveal Bravery + Writing Prompts

Choose powerful words that reveal bravery to capture your reader’s imagination. Use the right words at the right moment to paint the picture you want them to see in their mind.

“Summon up your courage men. This is going to be the most defining moment of your entire miserable lives. Don’t blink. Don’t think. Just fight!”

2. Fearless

“He’s my idol. He’s so so so fearless.”

“He’s not fearless. He’s a fraud.”

“Take it back!”

“It’s my opinion. I don’t have to.”

She’s so daring. I can’t take my attention away from her.

4. Boldness

“Listen, we’ve been thinking about bringing you onto the team now for some time. But we just weren’t sure.”

“That boldness you showed in there, that really reassured me that you are the right person for this team. I mean, really impressive stuff.”

5. Gallantry

“Your show of gallantry will be remembered for centuries. We will tell your story, my friend. Goodbye.”

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Power words can be used by any writer. 

Power words can help any writer go from mediocre to extremely proficient.

Power words can be ridiculously useful if used strategically and well.

Make them well placed.

Use them at the right moments.

Use them to get your reader from one thought to the next without getting bored or lolled out.

The use of power words is simple so keep the application of them simple as well.

To write a stupendous amazing power creative enlightening sentence like this is a little over the top.

But if you simply just use one or two in a thoughtful enlightening way you’ll be better off.

Power words can be used to help readers feel the situation we are painting with words.

They can be used to help readers take action about what they read.

We want to entice our readers to read more. Use power words at pivotal moments to do just that and more.

We don’t have to use a massive amount of power words to get our point across and drive home the idea.

We just have to use the right words at the right moments that seal the deal and really make the occasion.

Be a smart writer and take advantage of every word.

Write powerful words when appropriate to trigger an emotional response from your reader.

You can write powerful words instead of dull words to incite a desirous psychological reaction in your reader while you have their attention.

Write power words to give your reader specific feelings about characters and events.

Use the powerful word in a natural way that comes across organic and smoothly. Do not force it. Just let it flow.

Power words are good for pivotal dialogue moments. They are good to consider for fiction as well as non-fiction.

Use power words to take your reader’s attention.

Draw their eyes and attention to where you want it the most.

Wake the reader up from zoning out while they are reading your piece.

Use power words strategically to get them from idea to idea.

Use simple power words that are easy to understand but that pack a punch compared to other boring words.

Write powerful words to keep your sentences interesting to your reader.

Don’t lose them by not drawing their attention back from losing focus.

When doing freelance writing projects use power words to write better-converting headlines and subject lines.

In blogging use power words in the titles and subheadings.

In emails use them in headlines and subject lines.

Don’t overdo it. Don’t try to force many into any one sentence unless it calls for it.

Hopefully, this fast short post helps you think through some of your own writing and where you can incorporate simple power words in a meaningful, natural, and effective way.

Hope this helps!

Happy writing!

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brave - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• angel warrior
• being brave
• boxing ring
• brave new world
• Character strengths
• chivalrous code
• determination

"Brave" is a sweet spot between foolhardy and cowardice, I think if you look at the times you felt insufficiently brave you will see that you got it right.

If there is no fear then there is no being brave. I realise that you are scared, perhaps seeing how normal that is might bolster you somewhat.

The fear came as crashing waves, those of a winter beach rather than with any warmth. It came as a chill that went to the core of who I am and it snarled that I should cower. So I learned how to swim in the ice and live in that salty water with my own bravery as a furnace. For that is what being brave did for me, it gave me the strength to conquer fear and accept my pains as lessons I needed to master. It was a choice to walk through hell to find my heaven or remain in some half-life of neither for eternity. I chose to walk. That's brave. I'm proud of my choice.

A knock on farmhouse door used to mean something good, a neighbour with a gift or funny story - not anymore. It meant the guests under the floorboards had to be deathly quiet, even the baby. Any noise meant death for all and not quickly either; it meant a slow withering away in the concentration camps. An unnatural hush descended in the house, Victoria turned the radio on - their signal that the Nazi's had come. Albert wiped his sweaty palms on his work pants and opened the door, a genial smile plastered over his weathered features.

When Ron's best friend was bullied for shaving his hair off, he went in the next day with the exact same haircut. When he was invited to a climbing party he went, despite his fear of heights. He scaled the walls as far as he could, never relinquishing an opportunity to face his own fears. So years later when he became a firefighter no-one was surprised. That boy was born to be a hero, there was bravery stamped in his DNA.

Bravery is a skill we learn, for to challenge ourselves is to grow. I believe, however, that it should always be a personal choice and not a matter for others.

In the manner you conduct yourself there are always threads of bravery, for these are the strands you chose to weave your soul with.

The brave heart is so very often seen in the little actions that raise the collective consciousness - choices to love and give - because in their very doing they speak to others and suggest they do the same. Subtle actions, good role modelling, make you stand out from the crowd. This is challenging for herd species such as yours.

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Why Writing is an Act of Bravery: A Letter to Writers

Feb 7, 2014 | Writing Practice

“Only when we’re brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our life.” — Brene Brown

Writing is an act of bravery.

Each year, when I teach our writing workshops, I get to work with a small group of twenty-some writers, thinkers, and creatives. Inevitably, the process gets difficult in weeks two and week three, because I ask people to share parts of their stories—their wishes, hopes and dreams, who they are.

My students write with angst— “I’m behind! This is hard! I’m struggling!” —and I know this feeling all too well. I encourage them to continue, to press on in the face of fear or worry, and to get their pens to the page as often as possible. I am here to support, to encourage, and to push—just the right amount. Enough to get into it. Enough to push past the blocks and the barriers. Then the insights come: “Wow—I wasn’t expecting that I’d write about that,” and “That was fascinating,” and “I just got lost in a 2,000 word story and I’ve barely just begun.”

Writing is an act of bravery. Writing often means facing your own darkness and light. This is an essay for all of the students in my writing class, but it’s also an open letter to all writers, everywhere, struggling.

1. An open letter to all writers.

Dear writers:

The past few weeks have been deep, winding, and possibly full of emotions as we unpack the thoughts and ideas that have perhaps been long been locked inside of our minds. We have access to our thoughts, but not always a full understanding of them. Emotions can have such a mastery over us, and forging a relationship with your pen can help unwind parts of that. Through writing, we discover deeper truths about what we want, who we are, what we value, and the stories that we tell ourselves. Often we have to write the stories first before we can discover what it is that we’re trying to say.

For the newest of writers, I often hear that these first few exercises are somewhat surprising, bringing up past ideas and thoughts that perhaps haven’t fully percolated or settled in ways that you had thought. Often rough with emotion and tenderness, I find that writing brings up ideas and thoughts that I’m not sure how to frame, or what to say, or where to go next. It is within this context that I offer up a thought of gratitude for showing up to practice, and thank myself simply for embracing the pen and paper as a way to discover new (and existing) thoughts and ideas.

Writing is a spiritual practice, a soul-cleansing, deep-dive into the emotions and ideas we might not even be at first aware that we have.

Writing is a spiritual practice, a soul-cleansing, deep-dive into the emotions and ideas we might not even be at first aware that we have. Some days writing brings out the best in us, and other days I have to thrash through words before getting up angrily to go for a long walk, dance out my thoughts, or drown my ideas in coffee, water or wine. As we uncover the deeper truths and ideas—we become aware of who we are, and possibly the painful moments within us that have been buried for so long.

Write to discover.

Writing lets me figure out what it is that I’m thinking, by putting words onto pages and telling the story of my life, my experiences, and the world as I see it around me.

When I come back to it, I recognize patterns and ideas and realize much more about my perspectives and point of view. One of the kindest things I’ve done for myself is take the time to make space on a page, write some words down, and allow myself to come back whenever I want to talk through my ideas. Not every day is a glamorous day by any stretch, and I often struggle to sit down at the computer in the first place. In fact, it’s amazing how appealing laundry and dishes become when I’m avoiding saying the thing that needs to be said. What keeps me coming back to my practices, however, is that this is the place where I’m allowed to think what I think, write what I want to write, and tell the stories no matter how fantastical or horrible they might feel. I have permission to explore these ideas, without consequence. I can write them down. So, I write them down.

When we look at ways to talk to other people and develop communications (and stories) that teach, share, and explain—or moreover, that persuade—it often requires a deep understanding of the self, as well as a deep understanding of another person. Whether you’re a marketer trying to explain your product to an audience that could benefit from your design, a teacher trying to clarify a new idea to students, or an individual seeking understanding from a close friend or loved one, it is through our words that we take the ideas in our minds and give them shape for other people.

Words and writing are one way that we tap into our soul and ideas—words are a connection device between humans, a way to tell stories and share parts of ourselves with other people.

Words and writing are one way that we tap into our soul and ideas—words are a connection device between humans, a way to tell stories and share parts of ourselves with other people. The more we practice using our words and explaining our thinking, the larger our repertoire of sentences and stories that we can pull from to explain ourselves to other people. The more we write, the better we can teach, explain, love, persuade. Writing, as a practice, gets easier the more that you do it.

Writing is about bravery and courage.

“Give me the courage to show up and be seen.” — Brene Brown.

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are. We all have shame. We all have good and bad, dark and light, inside of us. But if we don’t come to terms with our shame, our struggles, we start believing that there’s something wrong with us –that we’re bad, flawed, not good enough—and even worse, we start acting on those beliefs. If we want to be fully engaged, to be connected, we have to be vulnerable.” —Brene Brown, Daring Greatly.

The beauty of writing, and this is true for me quite profoundly, is that we can often make our way out of suffering through the act of writing itself and often just by writing alone. It is not always the action or the striving that must be reconciled, but rather the understanding and acknowledgment of feeling itself.

As Spinoza, the philosopher, is quoted:

“Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” – SPinoza

In re-reading Man’s Search for Meaning, a gut-wrenching first-person account of surviving the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, Harold Kushner details the quest for meaning in his introduction to the account:

“Life is not primarily a quest for pleasure, as Freud believed, or a quest for power, as Alfred Adler taught, but a quest for meaning. The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times. Suffering in and of itself is meaningless; we give our suffering meaning by the way in which we respond to it.”

Forces beyond your control can take everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.

Writing is not just about sadness and suffering, either (and nor is life). Writing also lets us write the good things, write the ways we want to feel, and give permission to the greatness in emotion that needs as much encouragement to expand as do the emotions that make us seek understanding. Good feelings need space to expand, too. Write about all of it. Tell it.

Perhaps we are afraid of writing because we’re afraid of knowing our own story.

Writing is intimidating for so many reasons. We’re scared that we won’t capture the ideas or know what to say—and we’re afraid of what we’ll discover or become if we do pencil out those terrifying thoughts.  in your life do you feel brave or have you been brave? Perhaps your writing journey can begin with a highlights reel: describe a moment in your life when you encountered an opportunity to be brave. How did you react? What was the call to action? How long did it take you to decide to do something? How did you feel before, during, and after? What was the result? Who was changed as the result of this event?

Bravery is something different to every person.

To me, I can find it tremendously difficult to act upon one of my biggest dreams—the dream that I’m almost afraid to make real, the one that seems so simple to everyone else but me. In contrast to this seemingly simple thing, this act that everyone but me seems to find easy, I would rather jump in an ocean naked, swim a hundred miles, or work myself to the ground than admit to myself how important it is. When I discovered the extent to which I was avoiding doing the practice of my deepest dream, I wondered to myself whether or not taking steps to fulfill this dream was even brave. Did it matter that it seemed like the hardest thing in the world was getting on that bus and taking myself to the class I was so scared of? Did each of these actions—even just saying what my dream was out loud to those closest to me—was that even bravery?

Speak up for something you believe in.

The answer is yes. Speaking up for something you believe in, even if it’s just a laugh and a smile; holding your daughter’s arms, saying no with your eyes, writing about a story that hurts to tell, taking a class that terrifies you even though it doesn’t seem difficult to anyone else—this is bravery.

Write, tell the story of your life.

Thank you for reading and writing,

Member-only story

How To Be a Brave Writer

Jane Ukraine

Ascent Publication

When we talk — we rather interrupt, convince and argue. We call it — a conversation. We rarely pay attention at what our opponents might have to say. We let them speak, but we don’t listen: their words pass by into nothingness. We often struggle to find a good listener so we switch to non-verbal ways of communication in a hope that a message will reach an addressee that way. In the old age of my parents, it would have been a letter; nowadays, it is a WhatsApp or Facebook message. We don’t speak upfront, but can open up through writing.

The art of a book is to silence.

Taking it beyond everyday life, I’d like to expand the subject to the professional writing realm. How to get your point to readers, make them comprehend your words, keep it interesting and have them dwell on your story? We must tell the truth to gain readers’ faith, but… How to be a brave writer?

In general, we — writers find it easier to express ourselves on paper more explicitly. We take time to reflect and shape our thoughts. Yet I questioned myself the other day: do I write openly, am I outright to my readers, am I free to convey my view without a fear of being judged? Well, not quite.

May Sarton: Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at 15 to write several novels …They say write what you know. Be…

Written by Jane Ukraine

Bilingual emerging writer and theatre director (recent MA graduate at RCSSD). Working in education, care about perspectives and physicality in performance.

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