{"id":10651,"date":"2015-03-03T23:00:45","date_gmt":"2015-03-04T04:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lisatener.local\/?p=10651"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:58:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:58:50","slug":"writing-truth-reflection-authenticity-writing-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2015\/03\/writing-truth-reflection-authenticity-writing-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing the Truth: A Reflection on Authenticity in Writing and Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_10205\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10205\" style=\"width: 403px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-10205      \" src=\"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran.jpg\" alt=\"Book writing coach lisa tener\" width=\"403\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arms-open-by-water-imran-640x427.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10205\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Your Book Writing Coach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the Virgin America airplane ride back from a writers conference, I watched three movies\u2014a decadent luxury for this mompreneur.<\/p>\n<p>After watching a documentary about the life of one-time musical prodigy <a title=\"musician ben lee\" href=\"http:\/\/ben-lee.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ben Lee<\/a>, I found myself inspired and wrote a song\u2014not something I usually do. In fact, my family used to joke about how un-musical I am;\u00a0 my childhood piano teacher begged my parents to send me for dance lessons\u2014and not because she loved my\u00a0<em>Pli\u00e9<\/em> <em>or Relev\u00e9. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>I found the song writing experience surprising and soul-nourishing in a way my other writing hadn\u2019t been lately when I\u2019d tried to write about the topic of my writers conference presentation,\u00a0even though I was truly excited about that topic in its own way.<\/p>\n<p>Later, as I thought about that experience and other recent writing, I realized that a truer voice was coming out in the\u00a0shorter pieces\u2014the ones where I set aside expectation and just played with words, witnessing what came forth. You might\u00a0call it an \u201cauthentic\u201d voice. Have you had that experience with certain writing of your own?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAuthentic\u201d seems\u00a0like a buzz word these past few years. You see it almost everywhere\u2014on websites, in blog posts, social media and magazines.<\/p>\n<p>Why are we so taken with authenticity? I believe we are being called to step out of the old mold of who we think we are and step into a truer\u2014and more powerful\u2014sense of ourselves.<\/p>\n<p>This authentic self has more to offer others and can bring a greater sense of fulfillment than the outer layers of persona. But how do you access that authentic self? How do you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make decisions<\/li>\n<li>Speak<\/li>\n<li>Work<\/li>\n<li>Connect<\/li>\n<li>Love<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>from that inner landscape of authenticity? It can feel vulnerable, unfamiliar, shaky.<\/p>\n<p>Start with writing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You don&#8217;t ever have to share this writing<\/li>\n<li>Instead, give yourself permission to explore on your own with no one peeking over your shoulder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-10652\" src=\"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/FJournal-Cover-Reinvent-Sept-2012-for-web8.jpg\" alt=\"writing course\" width=\"300\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/FJournal-Cover-Reinvent-Sept-2012-for-web8.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/FJournal-Cover-Reinvent-Sept-2012-for-web8-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/FJournal-Cover-Reinvent-Sept-2012-for-web8-116x150.jpg 116w, https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/FJournal-Cover-Reinvent-Sept-2012-for-web8-100x129.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Writers often refer to a writer\u2019s \u201cvoice.\u201d Recently, my friend and client, <a title=\"Bonnie leonard\" href=\"http:\/\/bonnieleonard.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bonnie Leonard<\/a>, told me she wasn\u2019t sure she had a clear voice as a writer, but then someone who took her self-study course:<i> Reinvent Your Life: Write Now <\/i>told her, \u201cI could hear your voice as I read the materials.\u201d Clearly she\u2019d achieved authenticity\u2014the words \u201crang true\u201d and the reader fully connected.<\/p>\n<p>So, how do you achieve that on the page? Here are three different writing secrets for discovering your voice as a writer and\u2014in the process\u2014getting in touch with your authentic self:<\/p>\n<p>1. <b>Free Write:<\/b> Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes. Just write as fast as you can in a notebook as your pen swiftly moves across the page without hesitation. Don\u2019t take the pen off the paper. If thoughts come in, just include them in the writing without censor.<\/p>\n<p>Write about the first thing that enters your mind. If another thought interrupts, write that down. When your timer rings, read what you wrote and see if something calls to you, or seems a particularly juicy spot to continue exploration. It might be a word, a phrase, a paragraph, an idea, or a page\u2014follow it. Set your timer for another 10 minutes and explore the subject without editing or censoring\u2014just write.<\/p>\n<p>If the\u00a0 critic\u2019s voice arises, you can write it down and respond on the page (more writing). Repeat the process one more time.<\/p>\n<p>2) <b>Dig Deep into Detail<\/b>: Authentic writing is true writing: the reader experiences your story come alive for them. If you write, \u201cI felt nervous\u201d or, \u201cShe turned the page slowly,\u201d there\u2019s little to make it come alive. But if you describe your arduous journey up to the speakers\u2019 podium, sweat dripping from your fingers, your reader shares in your anxiety and the experience comes alive and connects you. Now, you\u2019re reaching your reader and magic can happen\u2014for the reader and for you.<\/p>\n<p>3) <b>Write beyond what you know<\/b>. You can start your writing with what you know about something, but it truly becomes interesting and engaging when you explore beyond what you already know or planned to share. Allow for space to explore an aspect you hadn\u2019t looked at before\u2014perhaps a forgotten memory that surfaces as you write about that trip to the podium. Where does it lead you?<\/p>\n<p>True authenticity is about being present. When you are present, you allow the creative force inside you to lead you\u2014whether you are talking, teaching, writing listening, playing, working, singing or creating anything. Authenticity requires being open, allowing yourself to be led by the wise, creative force within you that nudges you deeper in your relationships with yourself and others.<\/p>\n<p>Not only will authenticity make you a better writer, but a better partner, friend, employer, employee, spouse, parent, creator and human being. <a href=\"http:\/\/ctt.ec\/Glf68\">Click Here to Tweet this<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than try this process with your book, you may want to start exploring with some journaling instead. Here are a few journal prompts to get you started. Choose a phrase that calls to you and write those words in your journal. See where they take you. I suggest writing with pen and paper to free you up.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cMy bedroom window faced\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI\u2019ve always wondered what it would be like to\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cEver since ____________, I\u2019ve harbored a resentment about ____________. It started\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI often wish that\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember these writing secrets:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t edit, just write\u2014the faster the better.<\/li>\n<li>Fill your writing with specific details.<\/li>\n<li>Use different senses to convey details\u2014hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.<\/li>\n<li>Let the writing\u2014and your authentic self\u2014lead you. Let go of trying to control the process for now. You\u2019re not writing for anyone but you!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Share your discoveries and comments below. What does &#8220;authentic&#8221; mean to you? How do you access your authentic voice as a writer?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the Virgin America airplane ride back from a writers conference, I watched three movies\u2014a decadent luxury for this mompreneur. After watching a documentary about the life of one-time musical prodigy Ben Lee, I found myself inspired and wrote a song\u2014not something I usually do. In fact, my family used to joke about how un-musical&#8230;<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2015\/03\/writing-truth-reflection-authenticity-writing-life\/\"><em>&nbsp; Read more<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,128,27],"tags":[1449,1448,87,1451,1223,1222,1417,1450,1444,89,1682,1611],"class_list":{"0":"post-10651","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-writing","7":"category-writing-benefits","8":"category-writing-challenges","9":"tag-authentic-wriitng","10":"tag-authentic-writing","11":"tag-authenticity","12":"tag-ben-lee","13":"tag-bonnie-leonard","14":"tag-journaling","15":"tag-san-francisco-writers-conference","16":"tag-virgin-america","17":"tag-write","18":"tag-writers-voice","19":"tag-writing","20":"tag-writing-the-truth","21":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10651"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":279091,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10651\/revisions\/279091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}