Issue #3 June 2019 - The Book Smuggler's Den

We’ll get there in the nick of time!

But first a few words…

I started reading a book recently by Brene Brown and she starts with a quote from Theodore Rosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

The author explained what this means in a few different contexts. One of which was writing and art in general. The writing piece was interesting. She said that we feel vulnerable when we share something close to us. Sharing a story, whether it is nonfiction or fiction, is exciting and scary. There is a close bond with the piece of art you’ve written and to potentially have critics come after you and say how they feel about it can hurt us.

But at least you did it. At least you put yourself out there for people to see the gift you have and you should be proud of it. You achieved something that most are scared to do.

To all the authors this month and in past issues, thank you for putting yourself in the arena and sharing your gift with us.