Well, i would say the tension between authority and vulnerability is what drives good writing, especially personal nonfiction - it’s the basic cognitive dissonance between gaining knowledge enough to claim authority yet knowing you will never know everything - if a first-person writer doesn’t acknowledge some uncertainty about what they’re spouting, i find them less convincing. Like you, I don’t pay attention to authorities just because they’re famous or say they’re experts - I respond to genuine humility about a writer’s (or politician’s) place in the world.
Yes, I think that's what my friend was getting at, the tension between the two. Thanks for pointing that out! I might have missed it the first time, kinda hung up on authority. I appreciate your Talking Writing publication, by the way. Been a fan for a while!
Well, i would say the tension between authority and vulnerability is what drives good writing, especially personal nonfiction - it’s the basic cognitive dissonance between gaining knowledge enough to claim authority yet knowing you will never know everything - if a first-person writer doesn’t acknowledge some uncertainty about what they’re spouting, i find them less convincing. Like you, I don’t pay attention to authorities just because they’re famous or say they’re experts - I respond to genuine humility about a writer’s (or politician’s) place in the world.
Yes, I think that's what my friend was getting at, the tension between the two. Thanks for pointing that out! I might have missed it the first time, kinda hung up on authority. I appreciate your Talking Writing publication, by the way. Been a fan for a while!