I’m taking an advanced story production class with Moth Grand Slam Champion and story producer, Lily Be.
During our second session, she shared a major gut punch: “We all talk about creating safe spaces, but you can’t guarantee me a safe space. What we can do is invite each other to brave spaces where we courageously tell our stories.”
I’ve spent the past few days thinking of what that means.
According to Merriam-Webster, brave is defined as “having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty; having or showing courage.” I don’t know about you, but when I read definitions like this, I think of soldiers gearing up for battle.
Growing up, I approached life that way—armored up, shut down, and bracing for conflict. Yet as I meditated on Lily’s words, three attributes came to mind: courage, willingness, and open-hearted compassion.
Courage
To be brave, we must have courage. Mark Twain said, “Courage is the resistance of fear, mastery of fear—not the absence of it.” Courage requires a strong foundation, and the fortitude to work with what terrifies us. That means we need to be fully in our bodies, grounded, and aware of our feelings and needs.
Building that strong foundation doesn’t just prepare us to step into and transform the unknown. It signals to readers that we have their backs. We’re not here to overwhelm them, nor do we need them to take care of us.
Willingness
Courage gives us the willingness to do hard things. As writers, this can include showing up to your writing desk when you don’t want to, putting yourself out there by joining a group, posting something on social media, or submitting your work for publication. It could also mean re-examining a manuscript you thought was finished, listening deeply to what it’s trying to say, and clarifying what you want.
You also need the willingness to walk not toward, but away from something that no longer serves you, whether that’s a person, situation, or even a writing project.
Our willingness to do the hard work translates into stronger stories, deeper relationships, and goals that align with our soul’s purpose. When we do this, readers trust us because they know we’re sharing something emotionally true.
Open-Hearted Compassion
Spending time with your joys and sorrows will help you enter your story’s marrow, that sacred space that holds your story’s emotional truth. When you know it and share it fiercely yet compassionately, your points will be clear.
You’ll be able to let go of ego, which always wants a gold star, and think about who your readers are and what they need from you—which could be vastly different from what you needed when you started a project.
When you attend to readers’ needs, they’re more likely to give you permission to challenge and comfort them as you open their eyes and expand their understanding of the world.
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