Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” That’s not only true in a spiritual sense, but in a creative sense as well. No matter what type of writing we do, whether fiction or non-fiction, our objective as writers should always be the pursuit of truth.

The novelist Wally Lamb said, “If the book is true, it will find an audience that is meant to read it.” But what does that mean, exactly? Let’s break it down in practical terms. There are three types of truth we must keep in mind when writing.

First is the objective truth. If we’re writing non-fiction, this means we should check our facts and strive for accuracy. If we’re writing fiction, our stories should be true in the sense that they reflect the human experience.

Second is your truth. This just means that we are true to ourselves. We are not trying to portray ourselves as someone we are not. It also means we are trying to be true to our creative calling and natural giftedness.

Third is the reader’s truth. Whenever someone reads your writing, they come with their own agenda. They have a perspective. They have needs, desires, and pain points. There is something they want from your writing. It might be education, it might be entertainment, it might be inspiration, or a combination of all three.

It’s hard to keep these in balance, but it’s essential that we try. That is part of the challenge, the calling, and the privilege of being a writer.

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Second, focusing on one core message gives you momentum. Readers are confused when a writer talks about different things all the time. If you write a book on gardening, then one on how to become an attorney, then a third that is sci-fi fiction, then a fourth that is devotional for teens, people will probably tune out because they don’t know what box to put you in as far as topics go.

The more you talk about a particular topic, the more you will become known as an expert on that topic. Over the last few years, I have mostly only talked about writing as far as my public image goes. I talk about it consistently, to the extent now where that is my public identity as far as what people know me for.

The same is true for you. Focus on one thing and talk about it consistently over time through a blog, books, podcast, and other content, and you will be known as the expert on that topic.

And third, focusing on a core message or topic is going to give you a lot of energy. I absolutely love talking about writing not just because I’m passionate about it and it helps people, but also because now it has become a business that not only gives me income–it also is simply fun to do so. It gives me a lot of emotional energy.

All these are true for you as well. When you focus on one more message, you will have more focus, momentum, and energy as well.

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After all, you have so many things you want to share! So many life experiences! So many things you’re learning now! So much happening in the world around you, and in your life personally!

But there is a disconnect between what you personally experience in the world, and what your reader needs from you. It’s important to pay attention to this, particularly if you want to build a career or have a business as a writer.

Why? Because your audience is going to expect one main message from you, for the most part.

You might have many things you want to say. You have a lot of messages and ideas that are important to you. But people only have space in their brains to associate you with one core thing.

You might be passionate about ten different things, but you can’t build a business around ten different things, at least not in the beginning. So it’s important to choose just one single core message.

If you look at any successful author, 95% of the time they have one basic message, or one basic viewpoint, they are sharing. Stephen King writes about the horror of life. Joanna Penn writes about resources for authors in her nonfiction. Ryan Holiday writes about stoicism. Michael Hyatt writes about productivity and leadership.

The cold, hard truth is that people are going to put you in a box as a writer. They are going to associate you with one core message or truth primarily. So it’s not only a good business practice to stick with that one thing, but it also makes your life as a writer much easier in the long run.

It doesn’t mean you can’t deviate from that one central message, but it does mean that for the most part, you’re going to be associated with that one thing, so choose carefully and use that to your advantage.

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Today’s episode is the first in a seven-part series on dealing with rejection.

As writers, we deal with rejection in many forms. You can be rejected by a reader, a publisher, a literary agent, a podcaster, a beta reader, a book reviewer, a peer, and so much more. This rejection can be formal or informal, big or small. It can be direct and aggressive, or indirect and passive.

Whatever form rejection takes, one thing is for certain: IT HURTS.

And when it happens, we ask the inevitable questions like these: Why don’t they like my writing? Have I done something wrong? Why do they have to be so mean? How can I move forward now? What does everyone else think? Are they just as displeased?

Those are normal questions, but when you feel rejected, make sure and ask the most important question of all: Where is the seed of truth in their rejection?

Most of the time, in most cases, there is a kernel of truth in someone’s rejection. The person who hurt your feelings might be over the top, or maybe they went too far, but oftentimes there is a little bit of truth in every rejection or criticism.

So, look for the kernel of truth. Even if criticism or rejection is delivered in a hurtful way, it doesn’t mean the person was wrong. It just means they were wrong in their delivery. So, with as much humility as you can muster, see if there is any truth in what they said and adjust accordingly. You and your writing will be all the better for it.

Daily Question: Think of the most recent time you have been rejected or criticized. Was there any truth to it?

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If writing is a house, each of us lives on two levels.

The ground floor is where we invite people in. We share things we think people want to hear. We say a lot of nice things, put some coffee on, and invite people to sit around the table. On the ground floor, we have the furniture arranged just so and we try to keep things spic and span.

Underneath the ground floor, there is also a basement. The basement is where we keep boxes full of the things we really want to say. But we rarely bring them out because we’re not sure how people will respond. We keep things in the dark out of fear. But it’s important to bring those things into the light.

What might some of those things be? Maybe it’s a trauma you experienced like losing someone you love or going through a divorce. Maybe it’s your controversial opinions about something. Maybe it’s telling the not-so-nice parts of your story so you can help others. Maybe it’s talking openly about your mental health issues. Who knows what it might be—it’s different for every person.

The point is that you have things to say that people might object to, things that might get you in a little trouble. It’s not that we should seek to be controversial for its own sake. Rather, the point is we should be brave and bold when the time and situation are right.

We must be smart about all this, of course. But there is a time to stop holding back and just tell it like it is. Could it be that your time has come?

Daily Question: What is it you really want to say? What is holding you back from saying it?

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One of the most interesting characters in literature is the unreliable narrator. This character might be delusional, a liar, or is simply prone to exaggeration. Or, they might not have a firm grasp on reality because of their personality or mental state.

The unreliable narrator is so effective as a storytelling device because you don’t know what to believe as a reader. Therefore, it keeps you guessing the whole time.

Some examples of the unreliable narrator in literature include the character Alex in A Clockwork Orange, the unnamed narrator in the short story The Tell-Tale Heart, or Pi Patel in The Life of Pi. You can also see the unreliable narrator archetype in movies such as Fight Club, Gone Girl, or The Usual Suspects.

Each of us has an unreliable narrator in our heads. This is the voice telling you you’re not good enough, you’re not gifted, or nobody will like your writing. It is telling you lies and trying to give you false information.

At the same time, you have a reliable narrator in your head. This one tells you the truth such as you can make a difference, habits are the gateway to success, and you can achieve much more than you ever thought possible.

Your task today is to drown out the unreliable narrator and listen to the other voice that is telling you the truth.

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We love stories because they are a way to understand the truth. We humans are a species that like indirect communication. We are much more prone to accept the truth when it comes indirectly through storytelling. Our primary job as writers is to tell the truth. We do that through nonfiction, novels, short stories, biographies, TV and movies, speeches and presentations, and every other form of writing. realalexisbreeze selfie The most important way to do that is through telling stories. When it comes to writing skills, there is nothing more important than learning to tell a powerful story. It’s a direct line to the human heart.

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