How many times do you say something you don’t really mean during a day? Like, for example, that your partner looks stunning wearing that purple sweater or you’ve really enjoyed having that awkward conversation with your new neighbor. I love this one quote of J.D. Salinger that perfectly describes our reality: “I am always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”

We are social creatures and need to follow some basic rules of etiquette. On some subconscious level, we want people to like us and appreciate our work. But is it a good excuse for being insincere when you write? Some authors value the appreciation of their readers more than their own creativity and force themselves to write something they don’t really mean. I’ve been there and I know how it feels. Hopefully, some of the rules I use will help the beginner writers like me forget about the fear of being rejected and focus on creativity.

Copying the style of others won’t get you anywhere.

There is a business strategy that the second best player on the market uses to stay on the safe side — copying every step of the leader. If the leader makes a profitable decision, they both win. And if the decision of the bigger player leads to some disappointing consequences, the second-best has time to analyze the situation and choose a different way.

The same thing often happens to writers. They see an article or a book that got good reviews and try to create something similar to it regardless of what they really think about it. It might work for the business world. The world of writing is a completely different story. Readers are always looking for something inspiring and novel. If you try to make them read about the same idea over and over again they will get bored eventually.

It is not always about the truth.

You don’t have to write only about the things that actually happened in real life to sound sincere. Ernest Hemingway was a great writer because he could combine his reporter’s skills with outstanding writing talent. He was writing the truth and it was his signature feature. But you can write about anything as long as you mean it. Some of the renowned fiction stories were so successful because the authors did a great job at reliving every episode in their minds. They came up with a genuine idea and wanted to share it with the world. So should you.

Don’t be a hypocrite.

If you don’t believe in what you are saying, neither will your readers. It is the words you choose and the way you compose them into sentences that signals about insincerity. When choosing between several options of a plot twist, do not think which one of them will the audience like more. The choice should be based on your personal attitude. First of all, you can’t be 100% sure about the audience’s reaction. Second of all, it is always better to follow your instincts and choose the version you are comfortable with to make your story outstanding.

Learn how to deal with the uncomfortable material.

When you have to write about something you don’t feel comfortable about, you might choose to tell a story from someone else’s point of view. It is not the best tactics to use in writing. The final result will look unconvincing because you won’t express your own feelings. If you want to be honest with your readers, write the truth. Even if it is an awkward truth.

“Is it important?”

This is the question all bloggers should ask themselves before starting to write another article. If you are not sure of whether the text you are about to write is helpful and someone can benefit from reading it, don’t write it. If you can’t convince yourself that this content is useful, how are you going to convince others? Do a research and write about what YOU think. The great amount of useless content on the web is the reason why people are actively searching for new ideas and insights. They are hard to find but you can make your solid contribution.

It is impossible to write something that everybody likes. Do not create content with the sole purpose of people appreciating it as it won’t get you very far. Be yourself, find your own voice and you will find your true admirers. The world of writing is not that different from the real world, after all. Everybody sooner or later understands that it’s better to stay true to yourself than hiding behind a mask.