As writers, we are called on to be courageous in many ways. We must overcome our fears of putting our stories out into the world and whether the world will accept them. To overcome that, we make a personal contract with ourselves to write for ourselves whether anyone else cares or not.

In this age of fragile souls and more fragile people, we must find the courage to speak our truth and remain committed to free expression, even as it thrills some readers and offends others. It’s not our goal or purpose to offend, but to open the world to wider perspectives.

Finally, writing today is an act of courage in an era when nations that call themselves free practice censorship on the regular or, worse yet, hire for-profit corporations to do it for them. At least the tyrants of the past were openly tyrannical and didn’t cloak themselves in support of freedom.

Yes, if you are a writer, you are courageous…you must be! Yet, as writers from time immemorial have, getting what’s inside you out is worth every risk.

Keep on warrioring on for your truth. Kept on supporting others who do too; even those you don’t enjoy or agree with. For the word is still mightier than the sword, as Ben Franklin said, and humanity is on the precipice of a new future. It’s all writers on deck and all ideas considered to see that through.

Stay inspired!

Ray