05 Authority In Writing (Or My Dire Lack Of It)

The suggested topic for this blog post was writing with authority.  Something I can understand is needed in non-fiction works.  In fictional works--my specialty--the only authority needed is a strong voice for either the third person narrator or the main character narrating the story via first person.  In those settings, the author need only exercise the specific force of personality necessary to the story's world view and thematic overview--in addition to a compelling plot--to get the reader interested enough to read the work.  In non-fiction, that is a different story.

Truth be told, non-fiction authors have to create their own either through marketing or titles that may or may not be genuine; and trust me:  Many times, the non-fiction author's life station and level of expertise is nowhere near the stable level of reality.  If you don't believe me, just pick up any book in the Religion or Self-Help section of the bookstore.  In those cases, any schmuck with enough charisma and a big enough following can write with authority because there are several people desperate enough to believe him or her.  I find that to be truly unfortunate.

So where does that leave me?  I'm just a lowly college student writing a few papers for various classes out of the whimsies of the different professors assigning them.  Sure, I can write fairly well and throw in the force of will and style necessary to make a paper marginally compelling; but I do not really speak with authority on the subjects I am forced to write about.  Truth be told, despite whatever knowledge I may possess on any particular topic, I am nowhere near the level of expert on any of these ideas, which harms my credibility in the end.  The fact that I oftentimes do not possess the most popular opinion in the collective makes it even more difficult for me to be believed in regards to some of my world views.

But I digress.  I guess authority in writing is something that is earned, not given; gained through years of experience.  A lesson that the self help new agey authors managed to acquire in their decades of proselytization.  But I'm no expert.  It's only a theory.

LVX Amor!

Chris