Connect With Your Readers By Being Authentic

How you view yourself is just as important as what you publish.

When I began focusing on making writing my professional career, I separated myself from my work 100%. It is my work after all. What you do does not define you as an individual.

That's how I was taught- you leave your work at work and your home at home.

So I treated my job like any other and wrote the facts after thorough research. And I made some money. I got a few gigs.

However, in hindsight, I was stuck on a linear path. I was not getting better, or more, assignments. It felt pretty robotic.

Then, one day, an editor pushed me. I had recently accepted a position as staff writer for a popular niche website and although my informative articles were well received, my editor demanded more from me. He sent my third article back again and again. "I need more of YOU in this! Words are words, the readers want to feel the authentic YOU."

I was frustrated. My work was pristine, damnit! But I revised and reworded. Again and again because it kept coming back to me for additions. After the fifth draft was returned to me, I scrapped the whole thing and started fresh. I was irate by this point. Oh, I did put a bit of myself in it and it came out dripping with sarcasm.

The editor loved it. His subscribers loved it. He told me to keep writing just like this.

And that's when my career took off.

Unlike many other jobs, you have to put yourself in your writing. Your audience needs something to relate to, otherwise they feel like they are reading a high school text book. And while they may get the information they need, they will move on until their attention is captured by a writer who not only spews information, but presents it in an authentic and engaging way.

Authenticity is the key word here. Are you authentic? Are you being true to yourself? Do you know your true self?

Everything translates into your work. Everything you feel, how you view yourself. If you are not confident it shows. Your readers will pick up on that. If you are having a bad week, no matter how much you try to hide it, it will show through. You will be called out if you are faking it, or lying- even to yourself! It may not happen publicly but you will lose readers.

What can you do to be more authentic? First, be true to yourself. Be honest. Accept you for who you are, faults and all. Even the greatest superhero has weaknesses. Superman has his Kryptonite. These faults are human, and we all have them. They are what makes us relatable. Nobody likes to hang around a "perfect" person. And that is just what your fans and followers are doing- they are hanging out with you!

Let your Self in to your writing. And when engaging with others, ask deeper questions. Share your challenges- they probably have the same or similar!

Be authentic. Be real. Be you.

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