Writing with authenticity is writing from the heart. When your writing is authentic, it flows with speed and grace. It is simple and accurate. Learning to write authentically is a matter of finding out who you are and then writing that way. Authentic writing is a matter of being open, being willing to learn, and writing from your own experience. It's telling your own truth.
According to conventional thinking, there's an anti-wisdom involved here. Yes, you are writing for an audience, but you are also writing for you. At some level, you forget the expectations of a nebulous target group of readers and the imagined expectations that come along with them. You begin to write for an audience of one - you.
The interesting thing that happens when you begin to write for yourself is that your words say more about you then they say about themselves. You come to listen to your own voice. Your reader hears you, and a relationship is built.
Rather than setting yourself up as an expert, you set yourself up as a human being willing to trust the process and learn as you go. You start to let positive intentions drive your writing. You let your writing give birth to itself. By forgoing the facade of being an expert, you can drop the mask. You can be courageous, and write from within. This is wisdom.
Confucius is quoted as saying, "When you know that you do not know at thing - to allow that you do not know it: this is knowledge."
Of course, you'll need to do your research. You need to know your topic. The reality touchdown here is that your writing must still be grounded in truth and accuracy - that's authentic - but you can express it from behind your own eyes - that's authentic too.
What Is Authentic Writing?
Authentic writing sounds reliable and trustworthy. It's conversational. The sentences are short and written in plain language so readers can see your point of view and still form their own opinions.
Authentic writing comes across as self aware. It comes from tapping into yourself - your personal power - and the source that allows you to say things the way they are. When your readers' recognizes something of themselves in your words, you've written authentically.
You'll know it when you missed the authenticity mark. You'll be saying something like, "I need to find my voice again." You'll know there's something missing. You'll know that you misplaced something vital.
How to Write Like Yourself
It's worth your time to work on knowing who you are. It's also worth your time to stop trying so hard. You'll begin to write more authentically when you learn to trust the power of your words.
By using plain language, you'll stop trying to be someone you're not. If your writing is real, specific, and grounded, you'll rely less on cliche and jargon and more on relating back to your own experience.
You'll be conversational - breaking some grammar rules - and using contractions that define you as human.
There's no one style defined as authentic writing. It's writing your way (short, witty, serious, passionate, chatty, emotional - whatever) it's all you. It's getting your words and your values lined up, giving substance to what you say. Your words will reflect who you are, so don't overpromise. Be sure to give your reader what you told them you would in your lead.
Find a quiet place - inside you and around you. Focus on your most important thoughts. Take your time. Create something of lasting value. Authenticity will follow.
Why Write Like Yourself?
Writing with a clear voice - your voice - lets you build a relationship with your reader. Honest words help build rapport and trust. You'll feel more grounded and connected to your reader because you're speaking from the heart, and your reader will know it. You'll strike a chord.
It takes courage to write from the heart. It means letting go of some of the things you've been taught - at least for the moment. You'll give up wanting to sound like someone else. You'll rely less on needing to get it right, and you'll abandon the need to sound like an expert.
To be a great writer, you'll need to master the essentials of your craft before you un-educate yourself. Once you know your art, let it go. Great artists and musicians first master the essentials of their discipline. Then, they improvise. Do the same.
Find the courage to be you.
For writing with authenticity, I rely on Jack Kerouac's essentials for prose.
* Accept loss forever
* Be submissive and open - listen
* Do not fear or feel shame for the dignity of your experience, your language, or your knowledge
* Be in love with your life