Comments on: 12 Steps to Authentic Blogging: Advice from Blog Writers http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/ Kindness, clarity, confidence, compassion. Watchwords for writing on the web. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:25:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-557 Joanna Young Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:59:36 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-557 Hi Brad, that's interesting. I know what you mean, but I'm wondering what would happen if you could get into that frame of mind for writing a post... or if you would even want to. Is it something that would add to the writing do you think, or detract from the frame that you already have that allows you to express ideas, words, concepts, humour within the context of this thing we call a blog post? Joanna Hi Brad, that’s interesting. I know what you mean, but I’m wondering what would happen if you could get into that frame of mind for writing a post… or if you would even want to.

Is it something that would add to the writing do you think, or detract from the frame that you already have that allows you to express ideas, words, concepts, humour within the context of this thing we call a blog post?

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-556 Joanna Young Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:56:39 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-556 Hi Robert, well one thing's for sure, you're always guaranteed to make us smile - and tease us gently out of our comfort zones :-) Joanna Hi Robert, well one thing’s for sure, you’re always guaranteed to make us smile – and tease us gently out of our comfort zones :-)

Joanna

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-555 Brad Shorr Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:43:17 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-555 Hi Joanna, I agree with you about commenting vs. writing posts. For me, leaving a comment feels like writing a letter or (almost) having a phone conversation. It's hard for me to have that frame of mind when doing a post. Hi Joanna, I agree with you about commenting vs. writing posts. For me, leaving a comment feels like writing a letter or (almost) having a phone conversation. It’s hard for me to have that frame of mind when doing a post.

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-554 Robert Hruzek Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:25:01 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-554 Thanks, Joanna for using MZM as an example (although I bear virtually no resemblance to Frank Sinatra)! Hmmm... that quote of mine probably explains why two brain scientists (the good Doctors Ellen & Robyn) drop by the Zone so much. They are obviously doing a study of the insane! :-D Thanks, Joanna for using MZM as an example (although I bear virtually no resemblance to Frank Sinatra)!

Hmmm… that quote of mine probably explains why two brain scientists (the good Doctors Ellen & Robyn) drop by the Zone so much. They are obviously doing a study of the insane! :-D

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-553 Joanna Young Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:59:49 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-553 Brad, I'm glad you found it useful. A lot of these questions had been rattling round my mind since you first posed that question about authenticity and sales copy! I know what you mean about not shooting from the hip - taking time to think through what you're saying, testing it against your bigger purpose, leaving things to mull and stew, paying due attention to editing... but it's a balance thing, 'cos to hear the sound of our own voice, well I think that requires us sometimes to stop thinking and preparing, to get out of our own way and trust that we have the right words to be who we are. Maybe it's a question of putting the thought into the purpose and focus (and the reading and the linking and networking) rather than the actual words... On the comments point, you're right it does take time and it's also the key to quality conversation. I don't know about you but I also feel I've got to know people better through the comments and conversation in the comment box than I have from reading their blogs. You get a different sort of insight into behaviour and motivation from the way people do (and don't) comment than the way that they blog. I've also come across some powerful, authentic pieces of writing-as-comments both here and elsewhere - words that are lost to those that don't dip down from the feeds and explore the comment boxes. I sometimes wonder if people are a little less inhibited when they're talking away from the glare of a post - because sometimes I feel I get a much more privileged sense of connection with someone's 'true' self in the conversations and connections that follow. Joanna Brad, I’m glad you found it useful. A lot of these questions had been rattling round my mind since you first posed that question about authenticity and sales copy!

I know what you mean about not shooting from the hip – taking time to think through what you’re saying, testing it against your bigger purpose, leaving things to mull and stew, paying due attention to editing… but it’s a balance thing, ‘cos to hear the sound of our own voice, well I think that requires us sometimes to stop thinking and preparing, to get out of our own way and trust that we have the right words to be who we are. Maybe it’s a question of putting the thought into the purpose and focus (and the reading and the linking and networking) rather than the actual words…

On the comments point, you’re right it does take time and it’s also the key to quality conversation. I don’t know about you but I also feel I’ve got to know people better through the comments and conversation in the comment box than I have from reading their blogs. You get a different sort of insight into behaviour and motivation from the way people do (and don’t) comment than the way that they blog.

I’ve also come across some powerful, authentic pieces of writing-as-comments both here and elsewhere – words that are lost to those that don’t dip down from the feeds and explore the comment boxes.

I sometimes wonder if people are a little less inhibited when they’re talking away from the glare of a post – because sometimes I feel I get a much more privileged sense of connection with someone’s ‘true’ self in the conversations and connections that follow.

Joanna

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-552 Brad Shorr Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:33:54 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-552 Hi Joanna, your 12 steps really help explain how to write authentically ... reading this, it strikes me that authentic writing is not winging it, shooting from the hip. It takes a lot of thought and preparation. I'm glad you mentioned that point about comments. Quality commenting does take time, but it furthers the conversation like nothing else. Thanks for including some of my stuff in your post. Glad it helped spark an idea or two for Rosa! Hi Joanna, your 12 steps really help explain how to write authentically … reading this, it strikes me that authentic writing is not winging it, shooting from the hip. It takes a lot of thought and preparation. I’m glad you mentioned that point about comments. Quality commenting does take time, but it furthers the conversation like nothing else. Thanks for including some of my stuff in your post. Glad it helped spark an idea or two for Rosa!

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-551 Joanna Young Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:43:09 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-551 Thank you Rosa. I'm sure a lot of the ideas and concepts in the posts I'm linking to will be familiar to you - but I suppose there are always new twists, like Brad's recent piece which I'm sure you'll enjoy. Joanna Thank you Rosa. I’m sure a lot of the ideas and concepts in the posts I’m linking to will be familiar to you – but I suppose there are always new twists, like Brad’s recent piece which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

Joanna

]]> By: Rosa Say | Managing with Aloha http://confidentwriting.com/2007/09/to-thine-own-se/#comment-550 Rosa Say | Managing with Aloha Sat, 29 Sep 2007 23:36:00 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=193#comment-550 What a great round-up this is Joanna. I was stopping by for a quick visit, but I shall have to return for some of the links you share. At first read, Brad's quote truly jumps out for me: "Being polite is not the road to conformity, it’s the path to understanding." - a gem I shall remember and share Brad! You have been a magnificent hostess and teacher for us this month Joanna, mahalo. What a great round-up this is Joanna. I was stopping by for a quick visit, but I shall have to return for some of the links you share. At first read, Brad’s quote truly jumps out for me: “Being polite is not the road to conformity, it’s the path to understanding.” – a gem I shall remember and share Brad!

You have been a magnificent hostess and teacher for us this month Joanna, mahalo.

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