“Freedom lies in being bold.”
Robert Frost
Some time this week, I’m going to face a decision in my writing about whether to play it small or do something big and bold. It seems likely that you’ll be facing that choice, too. While it always feels more comfortable to travel the safe, predictable route, writing dangerously is all about not taking the easy path. Can we resist it?
Of course we can! We have strength and desire on our side — and that makes all the difference. Just think of the rewards we can reap! There’s freedom in boldness says Frost, and surely he’s right. The bolder we are the freer we become and the more creativity we unleash within ourselves.
Think of the bold writers you know and admire — how they pushed the edges of convention and reshaped it in service to their visions. For me, one of those pioneers was Thornton Wilder, who crafted the classic, Our Town, which remains one of the most-performed dramas ever. He took the whole world on as his theme and stripped the stage of everything but the barest props. Look at Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Henrik Ibsen, James Joyce, and our literary freedom fighter, Robert Frost. Why have all these writers stood the test of time? One of the answers must be the independence of mind and spirit they pursued.
How can we cultivate this same boldness in ourselves? I’m not sure I know the answer, but I’m searching for it. And while I’m looking, I’m going to move toward freedom by being as bold as I can push myself to be. How about you? Write on!
