Why We REALLY Write About Ourselves
As writers, we have been told since day one to write about what we know. It’s ingrained in us and for good reason. Why would we talk about things that we have no clue? We wouldn’t write a piece on the current news related events without doing some research.
The biggest reason people tell you to write what you know is because it’s about the only thing that makes sense.
Underneath that, though, we then have non fiction and creative non fiction writers writing about their opinions on EVERYTHING! I consider myself one of them and we write about ourselves, day in and day out.
I just went to Creative Non Fiction Magazine’s annual writing conference and networked with some of the writers there. In fifteen minutes time, I realized how much we wanted to all talk about ourselves. We were eagerly waiting for each person we came across to ask the question…
“So, what are you currently working?”
We would pretend to listen to others ideas, but really we were listening for our cue.
While there, there were several jokes made at this conference about how self-centered non fiction writers are. At the time I laughed, but the more I think about it, the more I’m starting to realize those jokes might have stemmed out of reality.
I have been writing creative non fiction for some years now, reporting on what I know, talking about my experiences. At the heart of everything I have come to several conclusions about why we talk about ourselves, all of which have nothing to do with just writing what we know.
Writers write about themselves to wrestle with their own terrible demons.
We write about ourselves to make sense of our chaos. We write about our chaos because it’s what we know, and as we ALL KNOW, that’s the stuff we’re supposed to write about.
But writing this kind of stuff goes a lot deeper than that. We write non fiction, really we write about ourselves, so that we become less lonely.
This world is a very lonely place, and as writers we are naturally in solitude a majority of the time. We’re like little cave dwellers, until we create something we deem suitable enough, beautiful enough in our own view. Then we venture out into the sun to say, “Hey, I think I’ve got a solution to all of this madness.”
We write so that someone, somewhere might find solace in what we have to say.
We write so that no one ever has to feel as alone as we sometimes do, huddled up behind our computers for hours and days.
We write about ourselves to help others. We write so that there might be a slim glimmer of a chance that someone listens to our life lessons. We write to give to others, so that maybe they trip one less time than we did.
We write about ourselves because we love to write, and why not write something passionate? Something that means something? Something someone else can relate to?
We also write about ourselves to be vulnerable in the most professional and accepted way in society. How many other “professional” people can spew about their frustrations, their life lessons, their terrible boss, their full-time jobs…? Displaying their scars and battle wounds from their time on this earth to anyone listening?
The answer is, there really is no other profession where it’s accepted.
So, yes. We write about what we know. Shamelessly. But what we know is also vulnerable, and beautiful. It’s unique and breathtaking. It’s honorable and refreshing. It’s scary and daunting.
But most importantly, it’s connecting us into a tightly woven web of individuals that at their most central core, are warmed by the thought that in a sea of people they aren’t the only one.
Thank you for your time, your support, and for being a part of my journey!
Interested in reading more by me? Check out some of my other posts!
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