Comments on: Discovering your Unique Voice as a Writer or Blogger; Or, who’s afraid of C.S. Lewis?

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Emma, if we're toenails, at least we are beautifully painted, alive and growing!!

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:57:13 +0000

Thank you Anita – much wisdom and encouragement, especially on finding our own voices instead of comparing our writing to other people. I only started writing when I gave up on trying to write like the people I admired; I'll never be CS Lewis, but if he's a heart in the writing body, I can be a toenail!

By: Miss Mollie

Miss Mollie — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:21:51 +0000

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your house guests.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:15:30 +0000

That's really helpful and thought-provoking. My instinct as an off-the-scale introvert is usually to be quiet and conceal but that can be quite stifling.There is so much truth in that maxim you quote, I think. Thank you for giving me much to reflect on!

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:34:15 +0000

Hi Joanna,

Difficult one. My natural instinct as a writer is to write memoir, autobiographies and essays, so sharing (over-sharing?) comes more naturally to me.

So the distinction between private and public has been blurring for me over 2.5 years of blogging/Facebooking.

There is a writing maxim, "The instinct to conceal should be a signal to reveal." Our most interesting material can come out of what we are tempted to conceal.

As Christians, everything hidden will one day be revealed, in public. There is something immensely therapeutic about living more like an open book, without secrets, masks and pretences.

We lose very little by sharing our real selves online. If anything, it strengthens our real life relationships.

This is for ordinary people. For politicians, vicars, or people with high position and power, it may be different.

I keep some secrets, of course, but often think, "This shows me in a bad light. So what? I am not perfect; why pretend I am?"

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:15:01 +0000

This is just beautiful, Anita. Thank you so much. That Rilke quote is amazing, just amazing. The thing I struggle with about blogging, though, is putting the kind of thoughts he writes about 'out there'. It is one thing to process one's experiences in a private journal; quite another to put them where anyone could see them. Do you have any thoughts on that?

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:42:12 +0000

Oh I stalk/read your blog too, but am not a good commentator, MOLLIE. Am so glad you're enjoying blogging. We have house guests for the next 4 days, so I hope I'll be able to keep up with the blog:-)

By: Miss Mollie

Miss Mollie — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:36:20 +0000

I was admiring your blog as I commented on your last post. I thought should I write more on theological matters, like Anita. My heart is there. But I answered,"No, I must write stories. I feel that is where God has called me."
Writer, to thine own self be true.
Even though that big pond separates us, I feel so often we are on the same wave length. I'm not copying, truly! I'm not a stalker, either.

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:35:07 +0000

Susan and Gisela, thank you so much for your sweet and encouraging comments:-). And God bless your writing!

By: Gisela

Gisela — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:24:44 +0000

Thank you so much for this reflections.

As an aspiring writer, who has been "aspiring" for many years, I appreciate the advice on the need to finding your voice.

You are so right when saying that merely imitating others may produce early fruit but not a sustainable crop.

It was a great reminder and a gentle charge to "do our thing" be it as it may. The Lord has given all different gifts. Let's discover our own.
thank you again.