Meaningful Self Expression as a Writer: Building a Relationship with the Reader

The relationship between writer and reader can be understood by examining ourselves in the two roles, since we are both writer and reader. Understanding who we are as writers is necessary for meaningful self expression, and we can do this by reading both as a critic and self critic.

The 'writerly self' expresses ideas, viewpoints and analyses from a personal perspective, even if we think we have carefully avoided that. Often the 'writerly self' is suppressed in genres where we are not allowed freedom of self expression, however it is always present within since we can't avoid stimuli and the inspiration that is generated. Sometimes inspiration comes from reading, but often also from gathering inspiration from life experiences. Either way, what we write is a result of information that we obtain from others and our environment, internalized, processed in an individual way, and then represented to others in a modified context with our own unique stamp.

One way of tapping into intuition leading to fresh insights about our own position as a writer and renewed inspiration is by writing a Mystory. In the Mystory we invite a personal relationship with the reader in that we communicate the process by which we think about and interact with the world.

Vincent Casaregola says that, as writers, we reflect the way we imagine others to be and also how we want others to imagine us, and that we are inviting a relationship with the reader. He makes these statements in reference to personal writing but the same can be said for all genres.

The Art of Persuasion

Even in scientific writing for example, through self expression we make our points to try to persuade the reader (reviewer) to believe us; to build a relationship with the reader. Convincing data alone is often insufficient especially when the topic is sensitive politically or challenges accepted dogma. We have to craft the writing carefully to encourage a positive response or attitude in the reader, to build the relationship.

The 'writerly self' is, and needs to be, manipulative in that we need to know and understand the reader as well as ourselves and the ideas we are presenting, and then pitch our ideas accordingly. Manipulation is often viewed as purely a negative concept, however if the writing is honest and we deliver to our target audience then it becomes positive. After all, what is the purpose of writing if nobody reads it? As a form of communication, there has to be a connection and interaction to build the relationship with the reader.

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Relationship between 'Self as Critic' and 'Self Critic'

The self as critic looks at the image presented to them by the writer; whereas the self critic looks back through a window to see on the surface what others see. This may be in stark contrast to what the self critic identifies with as self. We then develop a new relationship with ourselves as we consider how we feel about the material we have read. We discover new things about ourselves, some of which we may want to modify or represent in a different way in order to appeal to the target audience and build the relationship with the reader. In this way we learn more meaningful self expression.

This new self discovery can also result from the role of critical friend. From the academic approach of performing as a critical friend we respond to set criteria, yet also gain personal insights in the process.

In giving our first impressions we discover our own reactions and begin to analyze them.

In identifying and acknowledging the things we like in the writing we understand why we like it, or perhaps have the opportunity to appreciate something in a different way.

By giving examples of any improvements that may come to mind we register also how these can be applied to our own writing.

By placing ourselves in the position of the intended target audience we gain yet another perspective.

As a generalization, when we act as a self critic we are looking at our own persona, and as a critical friend or the 'self as critic' we further define and evolve that persona. By understanding our self as critic we are able to ground the self critic and channel our energy into building a relationship with the reader. The result is meaningful self expression.

Managing the Critics