authentic writing

I picked up a good literary article from Amy's Humble Musings.  It discusses the relationships between a writer and himself, and between the writer and his audience, emphasizing that writing is a very personal act in which the author's disorganized thoughts miraculously organize themselves on paper (or on keyboard, as the case may be.)

I loved the article.  I also loved the confirmation about what my own writing must be.  My own.  The value of writing is in the gift it gives the writer--clarification of thought.  Sometimes, that gift of clarified thought blesses others, as well.  More often it does not, which is why most writers don't make a living from their craft.  The moment an author starts writing for an audience, authenticity is lost.  And with that authenticity, value.

This is not to say that if you have a magazine writing gig, or other commercial gig, that you can't still manage  authentic writing.  If you have a passion for your topic, you can.