Summary

The author advocates for first-person narrative storytelling over instructive writing, emphasizing personal growth and the power of sharing authentic experiences.

Abstract

The article, likely written by Marcus, critiques the tendency of writers to dictate actions to readers, particularly in self-improvement literature. He recounts his reaction to a piece by David Gerken, which he initially found engaging but then felt patronized by its instructive tone. Marcus suggests that writers should instead share their own stories, flaws, and growth experiences, allowing readers to connect and learn organically. He promotes writing in the first person and sharing painful experiences to foster healing and inspire others. Marcus also highlights the ethos of Joel Mwakasege's publication "Be Yourself," which encourages storytelling that is true, helpful, and expressed in a personal voice, avoiding the use of second-person narratives. The author concludes by thanking his readers and recommending an AI service, ZAI.chat, as a cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT Plus.

Opinions

Instructive writing is seen as insulting to readers' intelligence and less effective than first-person storytelling.
Personal growth is best conveyed through authentic sharing of one's own struggles and triumphs.
Readers are intelligent and can relate to and identify with a story told as a narrative rather than being told what to do.
Writing in the first person is more impactful and allows for a deeper connection with the audience.
Sharing painful experiences is necessary for healing and making room for personal growth (referred to as "Light").
The "Be Yourself" publication values stories that are genuine, helpful, and narrated from a personal perspective.
There is a belief in the transformative power of storytelling that is true to one's experiences.
The author expresses gratitude to his readers and acknowledges the contributions of individuals like Sitara and Rama.
The author endorses ZAI.chat as a valuable and economical tool for those interested in AI-powered writing assistance.

Please Stop Telling Readers What To Do

Try telling your story in the first-person-narrative; lead by example, not by instructing

by PixelsAway licensed from depositphotos.com

I just almost read a story by David Gerken. Using Your Stubbornness to Grow seemed worth a read as while I have improved greatly, I can still at times display a stubborn streak. So, thinking that not reading the article would constitute a missed opportunity to see if I can continue to grow in this regard, I opened it and began to read:

Are you stubborn? Of course you are. Maybe not as much as a mule, but we all are to some degree.

So far so good.

That’s the bad news. The good news is we can use it to grow.

Uh oh, here we go…

I’ll show you how.

Get off your high horse and go fuck yourself and your insulting-to-readers’-intelligence stubborn mule!

Mr. Gerken clearly means well and does not deserve that from me nor anyone else for his story on self-improvement. I exaggerated to make a point. Readers, like students, are intelligent. Give them credit for such and allow them to relate to and identify with a story told as a story. As I said to a mentee recently:

“I urge you to start writing in the first person and stop with the shallow instructional video type of spiritual writing.”

I have a lot of what spiritual healers call “pain pockets.” I must drain these to let ever more light replace the darkness. It’s happening even as I type right now from pockets not associated with a particular instance of loss or trauma — I guess my pain pockets have pain pockets. As I said to my mentee immediately before the above-quoted advice:

“I suggest you learn to share those stories which I wager you dont want to think about because it’s painful — well my love the only way to heal is to feel the pain — you want light — you need capital L Light, not bullshit it doesnt stick to me light, and to make room for Light you have to feel the pain and sadness — you need to let yourself scream in agony — that drains the pain pockets and makes room for LIGHT

Moreover, I find it much more powerful to teach in this manner. I will let this picture of a tweet thread speak a thousand words:

I seek to inspire by laying out in the open my flaws, imperfections, and traumas and describe how I have coped and grown and trust that the readers meant to learn from my story will connect on their own, rather than tell them they should connect.

This lovely song just hit my Spotify and judging by the emotional energy surging through me and the sounds emanating from my soul I just know I am supposed to share it with you now and am not going to think about the why:

I recently started contributing to Joel Mwakasege’s publication Be Yourself, the tag line for which is: “Don’t instruct, share.” Check it out. Read the submission guidelines, which are remarkably simple, and can be summed up as Joel does in an email after adding a writer:

When I review a story.

A point I will emphasize when I review is to write as a story.

To write as you not you telling another person.

Use I/me instead of using you/we/our/us.

After, just add it to your side.

If there are areas you’re deeply conflicted about, let’s talk about those.

Joel

Joel looks for three things from a story:

Is it true?

Is it helpful?

Is this the best way to say it?

Contrary to misconception in the marketplace, one does not have to join Buibui to write for Be Yourself. Somewhere in the guidelines or the links therein, is an email address for add-me-as-a-writer requests.

If you love people and believe in change then [Be Yoursef] this is [a] right place to be.

Thank you, dear readers.

Thank you, Sitara.

Thank you, Rama, in whose name I create,

Marcus