What is an “Authentic” Author?

@2024 Wendy Scheuring, The “Authentic” Author’s Writer

To be an “author” means that we have “authorized” what we have written, meaning sharing it with others through some means of publishing. There are many forms of publishing that we can pursue, two of which we have discussed in a previous post. I’ll be writing more about that at a later date. But, first, let’s discuss the act of “authenticity” in writing itself.

But to be a writer, means that we record our thoughts that emanate from our heart and our soul. We may record these in a diary or a journal and later reread them and try to come to terms with what they mean, or we may rip them out of the book and dispose of them. As the writer, we are in control of what we put on the page, how we reflect upon it, and whether or not that meaning will be shared with others. Writing is a way to cleanse the soul and to better understand it.

Throughout history, many people were not taught to read and to write. Literacy was certainly a privilege. And it is certainly one we now take for granted today. Back in time, when people were granted this gift of writing, they realized how precious it was. Not only could they record happenings and observations, create stories and share them with others who may not even know them, they also learned what writing truly is, a reflection of what is in the heart and the soul. That is truly what makes writing unique and authentic.

It is my mission to make sure that this precious gift of literacy is never taken away from us nor ever taken for granted. How can this be in our modern era? There are many who are overexcited about robot apps writing for us. They believe that writing can be done by machines much quickly, for less the cost of hiring a writer, if they so choose to do so, and that the quality is fine. That is wherein the problems lies, in its quality. But mainly in its authenticity.

In we wish to maintain this gift of literacy, we must write on our own. (We have already replaced penmanship with block writing, then typing, to the point where people can no longer read cursive writing, thus a loss of literacy especially when it comes to reading documents of yore. Television and radio have lowered our standards of vocabulary. We are just not as literate as our predecessors from the 17th and 18th centuries.) 

So, as writers, what should we do? How can we keep the literacy skills we have and also grow them so that they do not disappear. First of all, stay away from any form of AI and use your heart and soul to write. You know, feel, and experience much more than a machine.

Secondly, do realize that writers are artisans, creating pictures in the reader’s mind, so as writers, we need tools.

In the digital world, we write with a keyboard on a pad or computer with a stylus or keyboard. But it is much more meaningful when write with pen and paper. 

The digital world is distracting. Yet the art of writing with pen and paper is soothing. You select a quiet space and with your pen and paper you begin to write your thoughts.

Writing with a pen is meditative.

Writing with a pen is superior to writing with a pencil. Penciled words can be erased, yet because every word is a gift, whether it is written or lined through, it is not forgotten. When we write with a pen, we can come back to it later and ponder upon this word or phrase, or later choose to ignore it. The choice as an “authentic” author is ours to make.

When writing with a pen and paper, the hand slows for it cannot keep up with the mind. When we slow down our thoughts, our writing becomes meditative, allowing us to delve into the depths of our being.

When we reach that place, we may not like what we find. It may feel uncomfortable. We may have to work through thoughts and emotions that we have hidden or have forgotten about. Yet when we write those thoughts and emotions on paper, we can choose to unleash them from ourselves by crumpling up our paper and throwing them away, or we can examine them to learn more about ourselves. 

As we write, we may unearth questions and look for the answers. Or, we may have questions we cannot answer. Being able to question is a movement and a moment of growth. We can always find the answers later when the time is right. That’s what “authentic” authors do.