Another treat we have today is being able to participate in the book tour for Falling for Chloe by D. Stearman. I completely agree with his thoughts. It’s something I need to remember in my own writing because I’m a perfectionist and I want everything to be flawless.
Please welcome, Mr. Stearman!
Writing Authentically
Someone suggested the other day that I refrain from starting Facebook messages with “Hey,” implying that it was impolite. After much research online and elsewhere, I learned that it’s not. It’s just informal. And I’m an informal guy, so for me, it’s also authentic. Which is a good thing, at least in my book.
How does this relate to writing? Well, I’m a contemporary novelist. I write stories about the here and now. If you write period pieces, what I’m about to share might not relate help you. But if you spin stories about the here and now, it could be vital.
You see, I used to have this problem: I tried too hard to write like a writer, or at least how I thought a writer should write. My grammar was perfect; no run-on sentences, dangling participles, mixed metaphors, etc. And yet I wasn’t engaging my readers. And why was that? Because my grammar was too perfect; no run-on sentences, dangling participles, mixed metaphors…get my drift?
In other words, my writing wasn’t authentic. My everyday speech doesn’t consist of complete paragraphs delivered in textbook grammar. I talk the way I talk. (Yeah, I said it that way on purpose, because that’s the way I express myself in real life.)
So I quit striving for dictatorial perfection and began focusing on the story. And my writing improved. Drastically. Nowadays some readers tell me they can’t put my books down, that they read them straight through, sometimes over a single weekend.
Now believe me, I’m not a fabulous novelist. Many of you could write me into a ditch. But if my voice is anything, it’s genuine, and I think that helps cover more than a few of my weaknesses.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a firm believer in good technique. POV, active sentences, all of that. But, honestly, I don’t think grammatical details matter all that much anymore, at least in contemporary pieces. After all, people don’t buy our books to refresh their sixth-grade English class. They buy them to be engaged. Entertained. Carried away. And focusing on those things, rather than mechanics, helps us get them there.
About D. Stearman:
Thanks again for joining us!
You can check out Falling for Chloe on either Amazon or Goodreads.
So my good fellows, once again, I completely agree with the message of authenticity. What’s one way you can be more authentic whether it’s in your writing, blogging, or personal life?
Tootle loo, darlings!
For me, being authentic means not thinking twice about how I’m going to act before I do. Meaning, do I say something just because I think someone wants an answer? But I really have nothing to say about that subject, so I won’t stumble ahead, I’ll just politely excuse myself or keep quiet. Being who you are includes not trying to be who you think someone else may want you to be. (They’ll probably be grateful to see the real you.)
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Thanks again for being on the tour! I really enjoyed this post because it really hits home for me in my own writing 🙂
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