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The Truth

On wanting to be real on paper. On wanting to include all the messy bits.

Christiana White
5 min readAug 27, 2019
Photo by Jeanne Blanche on Unsplash

I search for writing from flawed individuals. Or at least writing that doesn’t shy away from including all the flaws of the individual, of the individual’s life, of life itself.

I want to write stories and articles that will inspire others. But, the truth is, I find life rather more messy than that.

Is it just my age (51)? Or, is it a desire to be honest? A need to be honest? I want that from other writers now. And I want to be as honest as I can when writing.

Why is this important?

I know why. It’s terribly important. Because, otherwise, we feel so much more alone. When I read writing from authors that have it all together, I wince, feeling acutely how much I… don’t.

A few years ago when we were getting in the car, running late for school, I am sure, my daughter said, “Mom, you’re so not on top of things.”

It stung. I knew she was right.

Of course I want to be on top of things.

Of course I want to be more organized.

Of course I can do better.

But the journey, or my journey, anyway, is… something else. It’s still unfolding.

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Christiana White
Christiana White

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