Authenticity: what we mean by authentic writing
A selection of the best writing from the September 2007 conversation on what it means to write with authenticity:
Starting to write with authenticity
"Here's the truth: writing to match the imagined expectations of a notional set of readers will always cause your fingers to freeze. You have to make your focus more specific: write for just one person, for the possibility of connecting with that one person who will find your words of interest and of value. Have the courage to forget what anyone else might think." From Starting to write with authenticity
And what you said...
"I have felt what you talk about when going to leave a comment on a blog that is new to me - I wonder how little ol' me can add anything to this already rich conversation...(and where there are already many comments on each post before I even wake in the morning). I struggle for what to say and oft times, leave, without saying anything. To "Have the courage to forget what anyone else might think" is a worthy goal indeed." (Karen Wallace, The Clearing Space)
The meaning of authenticity
"The Thunder Road lyrics get to me every time, no matter how often I hear them. Springsteen’s writing strikes me as so richly authentic because - it’s straight from the heart, it talks about something true and something real." From The Meaning of Authenticity : over to you (part 1), but quoting Brad Shorr at Word Sell Inc.
And what you said...
"...from what I've seen, one of the greatest keys to authenticity is self-awareness. If you're writing just from a mental abstraction or understanding about your topic, it's a whole lot different than writing about your feelings (and so on). Authenticity doesn't have to mean "expert" — you can be perfectly up-front with the fact that you don't know much about what you're talking about — but hey, that's being authentic right there" (Adam Kayce, The Monk at Work)
Finding the courage to write
"Sometimes I'm not sure if authentic writing is easy, or hard. Maybe it's both. Sometimes I'd say it's easy because all you need to do is write what you know: your experience, your senses, your feelings, your values, your stuff. There's no one that can write that better than you. Sometimes I'd say it's hard because the challenge comes not in finding the words - but finding the courage to write them." From Finding the Courage to Write
And what you said...
I truly believe that when it takes courage to write is when we write our most beautiful works. (Liz Strauss at Successful Blog)
The Spikes and Thistles of Authentic Writing
"I was thinking the other day about how authenticity means being human. 'Authenticity may mean natural or beautiful. It may mean rooted geographically or morally, but behind all that it means human.' And what does that "being human" mean? It's us, warts and all. It's us: complex, difficult, imperfect, amazingly astonishing creatures. It's the beauty of a flower and the spikes of a thistle." From The Spikes and Thistles of Authentic Writing
And what you said...
"Even thistles have a good side. Sometimes you just have to change your point of view. A change of reference might loosen up my writing a bit. I'm now trying to write as I speak." (Joann Loos)
Italian Lessons in Authenticity
"This is how I am. This is my life. And this is how I write." Emma Bird guest writing on Italian Lessons In Authenticity.
And what you said...with some additional language lessons...
"After all, if people don't like who I am and the way I write, they can always go elsewhere." Brava!" (Sognatrice at Bleeding Expresso)
"...the word 'simple' in Italian translates into 'semplice'. When you call someone a 'simple person' it's actually very positive. It's used for someone who is authentic and enjoys the simple things in life: friends, family, food, wine..." (Emma Bird at HowToItaly)
"As for this: "This is how I am. This is my life. And this is how I write. I'm proud of being me and love the life I live so why should I hide it?" YOU GO GIRL! Hana hou!" (Rosa Say at Managing with Aloha Coaching)
Sometimes I write hollow
"If you clean out the rotten wood where the ants have worked and you peel off the bark which covered the problem, and you cut the log into varying lengths, and you cover the end of each of those tubes with some membrane, you have music. And so sometimes I write hollow. And sometimes you hear music." Jon Swanson guest writing with Sometimes I Write Hollow
And what you said...
"You are helping us understand how authenticity and our willingness to be vulnerable with each other can reveal such wonder." (Rosa Say at Managing with Aloha Coaching)
Two simple steps to authenticity
"Therefore, if you are seeking more authenticity in your writing, my advice, which you are of course free to take with a grain of salt (not to mention the salt shaker and the whole bloody mine it came from), is actually pretty simple, and can be listed in two simple steps.
Are you ready? Here they are:
1. Find out who you are, then
2. Write that way."
Classic advice from Robert Hruzek guest writing with Two Simple Steps to Authenticity
And what you said - about distinctive voice and instant recognition:
I love Robert's musings because his writing is authentic and his voice is distinctive. Anyone who has read his blog a few times can read something and instantly recognize Robert wrote it. (Lillie Amann at A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye)
Find out who you are and do it on purpose (part 3)
"Because I think it’s a cyclical process. We need to have some idea of who we are before we can write as ourselves, write with authenticity. But writing - the act of forming, creating, stringing words together - well that can help us to work out who we might be in the first place."From Find Out Who You Are and Do It on Purpose (part 3)
Bling Writing
"I started to think about what we’d been talking about this month. About finding your voice, speaking from the heart, writing the way that you want, not caring what anybody else thinks, switching off that internal editor.
Finding the courage to hear yourself sing.
And I thought about writers that I love to follow, that I enjoy reading, that wake me up, make me smile, get me crying on occasion over my cornflakes, and I thought about the things that they add to their writing. Some of their signature strengths. Brevity done to a fine art. A running internal commentary to make us smile, creating a bridge to another person’s world. One line power packed paragraphs. Using words like “heart” (happily, freely) when most of us hold back, half-hearted.
And I started to wonder: isn’t this what we mean by writing with confidence?
Adding your twists, your words, your way. Your signature tune. Your writing bling." (From Bling Writing)
And what you said:
Finding our own individual voice is, after all, a huge part of what confident writing is all about--whatever we choose to call it! (Jeanne Dininni, Writer's Notes)
When you can't find your voice
"Write what you know. Ground it in your experience. It'll make your writing more real, powerful, confident. No-one else can do this better than you
Write for yourself: throw your caution to the wind, write for yourself, for your pleasure and enjoyment, the words that come to you, that tell your story, that talk of who you are" From When you can't find your voice
And what you said:
I guess, amongst everything, finding your voice comes down to knowing who you are. Being authentic. (Cat, from Business of Design Online)
On losing and finding your voice
"My advice, such as it is? Embark on the journey of discovery, whatever that means for you. Learn, consciously and joyfully about what happens to you along the way. Write and write and write – your own words, your own experience. Keep it private until you are ready.
Keep writing, learning and writing and learning. Listen, watch, learn. Learn to write and experiment, to doodle and dream, to whisper, to toot and to roar.
Keep writing. Until you have read in your own words the voice you were waiting to hear." From On Losing and Finding Your Voice
And what you said...
What you've written here really has meaning to me - it's helping me organize my thoughts on my writing issues. Your words are helping me find mine. (Rick Mahn from Rick Mahn)
To thine own self be true: 12 steps to authentic blogging
By the way I have to say thanks to my readers here who have authentic comment writing off to a fine art. I know that many of the things you say, ask, offer, wonder and reflect are about you being you in that little comment box, and each one is treasured - by me, and I'm sure the other readers who stop by here. (From 12 steps to authentic blogging)
And what you said...
I'm glad you mentioned that point about comments. Quality commenting does take time, but it furthers the conversation like nothing else (Brad Shorr from Word Sell Inc)
Singing your song: the round up of authentic writing
There’s been an unexpected musical focus to the writing here this month, what with contributions and inspiration from Elvis, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, Irish country music singers, rappers, and rock stars. We’ve talked about what happens when you can’t find your voice and finding the courage to hear yourself sing. Sound, rhythm, resonance have emerged as themes in our exploration of what it means to write with authenticity. Marching to the beat of your own drum. Learning how to toot, sweetly. (From Singing your song: the round up of authentic writing)
And what you said...
You've done a great job of pulling together many strands and helping us all collectively weave a beautiful tapestry of, well, authentic, confident writing! (Robert Hruzek from Middle Zone Musings)
I work to get people writing with confidence. Subscribe to the Confident Writing feed for more writing tips or find out how to work with me.
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
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