The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Can You Handle the Truth? Three Reasons Why We Should Write Honestly

I was looking for a great quote about writing for a project I'm working on, and came upon this one by Margaret Atwood:

“The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read. Not by any other person, and not even by yourself at some later date. Otherwise you begin excusing yourself. You must see the writing as emerging like a long scroll of ink from the index finger of your right hand; you must see your left hand erasing it.”

I'm struggling with a project. Should I keep it intact as a novel, or divide it into a couple of different projects? Or, should I keep the novel as is, and write a memoir that was inspired by the fictional piece? (The Lovely Bones and Lucky were like this.)

I've had some unusual challenges in the last five years. (My brother was a real piece of work.) My oldest childhood friend is a psychiatrist, and even she said she's never heard anything like it. (I definitely don't feel proud. ;) Certainly there are advantages to writing truthfully. But what are they?

1. It is healing. Writing of sad or challenging times can help the writer work through those feelings.

2. It can help others. No one is alone. Everyone has issues they have to deal with. Reading about someone else's life lets the reader know they're not alone in their struggle.

3. It makes our writing more powerful. If our writing is true, if it lays out our vulnerability for all to see, it's going to have a strong impact on the reader.

How about you? How do you handle honesty in your writing? Have you had any blow-back or success stories because you honestly wrote? Vacillating minds want to know...


12 comments:

  1. I can't go all-out in my writing. Nope. Can't do it. No blow-back or success stories. I can't write like nobody's reading. Nor can I do what this old country song says:

    "You got to sing like you don't need the money
    Love like you'll never get hurt
    You got to dance like nobody's watchin'
    It's gotta come from the heart
    If you want it to work"

    Knowing you're not an old country fan, I think I've left this link before. Kathy Mattea singing "Come From the Heart."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaQ1EjmGkk

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    1. Val--But rumor has it you have a super secret blog that no one knows about. Surely you could write all-out there?

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  2. Thanks for these very honest suggestions. I am a firm believer about honest writing, and it has helped me work through many challenges. It also has the ability to touch others who are going through similar challenges. Win...win!!

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    1. NoExcuses--It seems to me I remember you commenting before about not having anyone to be a writing partner with you... no one to respond to your writing. Has that changed? (I hope so.)

      You are right. It's a win-win when we can work through challenges via our writing while it touches and helps others.

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  3. Everything you say is true. But I stick to fiction. Some things I lay bare, but there's always something held back, no matter how honest I try to be. You know I believe in the Naked Truth...but omission isn't a lie, it's just keeping those things private I'm not ready to share. The thing is, sometimes today's truth is tomorrow's lie, but once something is written it can't ever be unwritten. Aspire to be truthful in your writing. But tread with caution as well.

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    1. Lisa--Your line about "sometimes today's truth is tomorrow's lie" intrigues me. And you're right, of course. We have to tread lightly at times, and sometimes private things should remain private. (If I was as good as fiction as you are, I'd stick to it as well.)

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  4. I lean towards Lisa's philosophy. I rely on my truth to inform my fiction, to write authentically, but I don't usually share the nitty gritty details.

    Unless the nitty gritty details are funny. Then I'm all in! (But yes, I've had family fuss at me for sharing funny stuff I should've kept to myself. In THEIR opinion. :-) )

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    1. Cathy--Isn't that one reason why we hang around our families--so we have writing fodder?

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  5. I never pull my punches anymore, and haven't in along time. When i first started trusting my audience with certain stuff, I repeatedly got reactions saying people felt the same way and were glad to see it written down somewhere. Since then, I just let it rip.

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    1. Shay--The stuff that comes out when you let it rip is powerful or hilarious or heart wrenching. I've run across a few who--when they let it rip--resemble people with a flatulence problem.

      I have a feeling you will have a need to let it rip on many occasions in the next four years...

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  6. Call me chicken, but if its too personal, I write for my own eyes only, and often destroy it later. Especially if the issue relates to people who are still around to take offense. Increasing drama is something I don't need. As Lisa said, once something is written (and put out there) it can't be unwritten.

    Pat
    www.patwahler.com

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    1. Pat--From someone who has sometimes really faux pas-ed (because of a story they wrote), I say, "I completely understand."

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Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by...