Let Your Freak Flag Fly

Put the real you on display when you write.

Writing should be fun. At the very least, writing shouldn’t make you miserable. I was once miserable reading a short story that my friend won an award for in eighth grade. That was more than thirty years ago. It might have been a good story back in the day, but it was not a good story by today’s standards.

It was full of big words that I had to look up in the dictionary, which is now on my phone, no longer the big fat hardcover book that it used to be. The writing was pretentious. It was painful to read, yet my friend thought it was the greatest thing in the world because someone who knew nothing about writing said it was worthy of an award.

I couldn’t tell you what it was about because I couldn’t understand what it said. It made my brain hurt.

I come from the school of “be yourself when you write.” Who you are should shine through your writing. It’s an opportunity for your voice to be heard, not an opportunity for who you think you should sound like to show up.

Here are some tips for successfully sounding like yourself when you write.

First, write as you talk. Imagine you are having coffee with a friend. Write as if you are talking to your friend, or as if you are explaining something to them. You wouldn’t use words that they don’t understand, buried in long run-on sentences. You wouldn’t talk down to them. You would keep it simple.

I prefer to pretend I am at a deli in Manhattan having cheesecake with cherries on top after a trip to Bloomingdale’s and a celebrity sits down next to me. It could happen. But I digress. Write as if you are talking to the person that you are dining with.

Change up who the person is to vary the mood or tone of your writing. For example, you would speak differently to Lady Gaga than you would speak to Jerry Seinfeld or Robert De Niro. Just relax and write; let the conversation flow.

Also, let your quirks and weirdness come out. That’s what makes your writing unique and specific to you.

Don’t try to hide your individuality. Individuality is good. If you are humorous by nature, use that. Show the real you.

Some writers try to hide who they are and fill the pages with what they think the reader wants them to be. Readers aren’t stupid; they can sniff that out; don’t underestimate their intelligence. Be the true you and establish a relationship with your reader based on authenticity and genuineness.

Finally, accommodate the needs of your audience. It’s all about the readers; give them what they want. You do this by knowing your reader and taking that into consideration.

Although you want to write like you talk and be your quirky self, you do not want to be offensive or alienate your reader. That would be bad.

Once you put your words out into the universe, they are out there forever. A little bit of self-censorship can do a lot of good. Being mindful and respectful of others can be done easily without sacrificing your voice as a writer.

You shouldn’t have to suffer to write. And your reader should never have to suffer when reading.

Write like you talk. Be yourself when you write. Be respectful when you put your words out there.

Simple words to live by that will benefit both reader and writer.

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Linda Kowalchek is a work in progress and a member of the typewriter generation. She spends her time with her husband and her rescue cats waiting for golf balls to crash through their windows. PSA: Don’t live next to a golf course.