What defines a heroic writer?
The hero’s journey redefines what heroism means
I went down a rabbit hole this morning. I started to think about how I should writing something “heroic” and I realized I didn’t quite feel like a hero, despite being on this hero’s journey. I started “googling” things related the hero’s journey, which led me to other writers’ works on the topic; then I started to read their pieces, then imposter syndrome kicked in.
It’s SCARY down in the rabbit hole. It’s dark and it brings on claustrophobia. You start to get all up in your head, wondering if you’re the only one down there and what if the sides fall in on you and will you suffocate and you want to scream.
The rabbit hole is a terrifying place. But I realized, it’s an even better analogy than I’d thought for me to tap into today.
Because it’s scary being on a hero’s journey. Writing, especially for a public audience, is SCARY. Especially when you are picking up something new. I mean, the writer-revered Stephen King once said:
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”
Reflecting on that fear triggered an insight: The first definition of the adjective heroic relates to someone courageous. Heroism itself involves great acts of bravery. And those moments, when someone courageous commits an act of bravery, they are essentially saying, okay, I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I’m going to do this thing. I’m answering the damn call.
A heroic writer is one who shows up at the blank page and owns it.
They show up at that page again. And again.
A heroic writer is someone who dedicates time to write as often as they can. Every day or every now and again or anytime they are not exhausted by other tasks or responsibilities. A heroic writer (re)dedicates themselves to writing after a hiatus.
A heroic writer makes themselves vulnerable by writing essays or first person stories or fiction that exposes their imaginations hard work. They allow themselves to be judged, to be rejected, to be criticized… to attract trolls. (Throw a troll down that metaphorical rabbit hole and I’m DONE.)
The big difference between a writer on a heroic journey and a character on one? The writer knows they are on one! The writer knows what is to come — all the trials and tribulations and tests they — they are so aware of everything that they need to experience that is scary.
The heroic writer goes into conflict and adversity with their eyes wide-opened. That is the very model of heroism.
What do you think defines a heroic writer? What makes you one? What brave thing did you do today that we can applaud you for. Because go you! And if you are in a rabbit hole? Give me a shout. I don’t want you there alone.
