It’s like the seal of authenticity that he included as a picture with this piece, or his personal signature. When you read his stuff you just know that it’s him.

The trick – and the hard bit – is to find our own signature strengths. To find our own way of writing (and being). To enjoy reading other people’s writing but not to let that displace our confidence in our own.

I’m sure you must have experience of this as editor (and writer too of course) – I’m wondering what kind of things you look for or encourage in writers to demonstrate their own signature strengths or hallmarks?

Anyway one things for sure, I’m definitely going to be coming back to this question over the next couple of weeks…

Joanna

One thing I will say though – it’s actually a process of discovery. Yep, it’s a (if you’ll pardon the tired old metaphor) journey, and not a destination. I found out who I was as a writer just as Joanna suggests: through my writing.

So the answer is: just go ahead and express yourself! You’ll know it when it starts “clicking”, because that’s when you’ll notice the change in feedback and comments.

It’s sortof like learning patience; you don’t KNOW you have it until you look back and realize you DO!

Seriously though I think that question ‘how do you find out who you are’ is central to the authentic writing and authenticity question (and my own view is that writing can help us to find out who we are) – and I’ll be coming back to and trying to help us explore this question in the next couple of weeks.

Joanna

PS Robert’s site is great isn’t it? I came across it through his writing challenges, but it’s such a great place to hang out, hear a story, get a smile… I have a feeling there’s beer served too, but maybe that’s just the virtual effect you get after a visit

As to your invitation (challenge?!) to write at MZM – I’m musing on it as we speak

Joanna

Cheers!