Comments on: How to be Transparent without Being too Personal http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/ Unmissable articles on writing Mon, 21 May 2012 03:14:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Keith Petri-A Balanced Blog: A Modern Art | The Opportunities Project http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-21279 Keith Petri-A Balanced Blog: A Modern Art | The Opportunities Project Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:03:09 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-21279 [...] your writing and respect your work that much more. I believe that Alex Blackwell said it best in a blog post, “the goal becomes how to be transparent while not being excessively personal.”__________ To [...] [...] your writing and respect your work that much more. I believe that Alex Blackwell said it best in a blog post, “the goal becomes how to be transparent while not being excessively personal.”__________ To [...]

]]> By: Favourite Links Friday 2/26/09 | Shooting the Breeze http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-17466 Favourite Links Friday 2/26/09 | Shooting the Breeze Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:14 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-17466 [...] 3 Ways To Make Yours Succeed by Tom4. What Does Tiger Woods’ Apology Say To Pastors? by Paul 5. How to be Transparent without Being too Personal by Mary Jaksch 6. Microsoft Security Essential – Free Virus Remover Tool from Microsoft Team [...] [...] 3 Ways To Make Yours Succeed by Tom4. What Does Tiger Woods’ Apology Say To Pastors? by Paul 5. How to be Transparent without Being too Personal by Mary Jaksch 6. Microsoft Security Essential – Free Virus Remover Tool from Microsoft Team [...]

]]> By: Steve http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12135 Steve Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:38:01 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12135 I struggle with this topic - balancing personal issues with business writing, in my case, and mixing the two often. Not wanting to seem too "out there" or "unprofessional", while knowing that the bland, safe, uninteresting writing I see on so many blogs doesn't cut it. Good article and insights. I struggle with this topic – balancing personal issues with business writing, in my case, and mixing the two often. Not wanting to seem too “out there” or “unprofessional”, while knowing that the bland, safe, uninteresting writing I see on so many blogs doesn’t cut it.

Good article and insights.

]]> By: Tess The Bold Life http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12132 Tess The Bold Life Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:03:49 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12132 Alex, I love the examples you gave. I often write about personal things but not during the process...only after I've figured things out. I'm thinking about changing that. Great post! I love your blog by the way! Alex,
I love the examples you gave. I often write about personal things but not during the process…only after I’ve figured things out. I’m thinking about changing that. Great post! I love your blog by the way!

]]> By: Holly Bowne http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12130 Holly Bowne Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:04:18 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12130 Insightful post. I guess I struggle a bit with being too transparent. But I do like the idea of "the Emily Test." I do something similar with my own kids. Because I often write about parenting issues, my two teens come up a lot in my blog and other writing. But I try never to shed them in an unfavorable light. (So far they humor their ol' mom.) Insightful post. I guess I struggle a bit with being too transparent. But I do like the idea of “the Emily Test.” I do something similar with my own kids. Because I often write about parenting issues, my two teens come up a lot in my blog and other writing. But I try never to shed them in an unfavorable light. (So far they humor their ol’ mom.)

]]> By: cjwright http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12124 cjwright Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:14:21 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12124 I read somewhere that we should never do anything that we would be ashamed to appear on the front page of the New York Times. I think that's true for sharing our personal lives, too. Some things are personally sacred, and should be treated as such. I read somewhere that we should never do anything that we would be ashamed to appear on the front page of the New York Times. I think that’s true for sharing our personal lives, too. Some things are personally sacred, and should be treated as such.

]]> By: Donna Cunningham http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12123 Donna Cunningham Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:40:05 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12123 What amazing serendipity. This week I wrote a post that was so very personal I was terrified to publish it (I am an extremely private person.) It was about a particular astrological feature of the birth chart, but I was inwardly guided to write it because a friend of mine almost died and I was barred by her family from coming to the hospital. I went through all kinds of conniptions after publishing it, but the response has been incredible. Readers were touched and admired me for sharing so personally and honestly. They were moved to write from the heart about a similar feature in their birth chart and what it has meant in their own lives. So far, there are 120 such sharings in the comment section and more added every day. And together, we've learned a great deal that was new about that particular type of feature. Though I was glad, in the end, that I'd opened up that way, I was still left puzzled about what parts of my life it is okay to share and what is TMI. Your helpful article has answered many of the questions, and I want to go and read the posts you referenced. Thank you for the clarity. Donna Cunningham of Skywriter What amazing serendipity. This week I wrote a post that was so very personal I was terrified to publish it (I am an extremely private person.) It was about a particular astrological feature of the birth chart, but I was inwardly guided to write it because a friend of mine almost died and I was barred by her family from coming to the hospital.

I went through all kinds of conniptions after publishing it, but the response has been incredible. Readers were touched and admired me for sharing so personally and honestly. They were moved to write from the heart about a similar feature in their birth chart and what it has meant in their own lives. So far, there are 120 such sharings in the comment section and more added every day. And together, we’ve learned a great deal that was new about that particular type of feature.

Though I was glad, in the end, that I’d opened up that way, I was still left puzzled about what parts of my life it is okay to share and what is TMI. Your helpful article has answered many of the questions, and I want to go and read the posts you referenced. Thank you for the clarity. Donna Cunningham of Skywriter

]]> By: Michelle @ Following Your Joy http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12122 Michelle @ Following Your Joy Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:28:39 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12122 Hi Alex, You just hit on exactly why I subscribed to your blog the very first time I read it. As a blogger, you are "real," genuine, and comfortable in humbly sharing yourself with your readers...in service of us all riding this journey of life together. I didn't need to think twice about whether or not I wanted to stay in touch with you. I love surrounding myself with people like you, who believe that life is good and care about making the journey as enjoyable as possible! When I started my blog early last year, I remember my heart pounding before I hit "publish" on my first several posts. Because in doing so, I was stepping up to the plate and sharing "me" with the world. And of course I enjoyed the creative outlet of expression, but the even bigger thrill was knowing that my stories were resonating with others; they could either see themselves in my stories or they could receive inspiration to fuel them forward in their own story. It's a pretty cool honor to be a blogger, huh? I have been "writing about what I love" as you suggest. And I'm so humbled to say that the more I do just that, the more my readers say they want more! Thanks for sharing "you" with us, and thank you for your affirmation to me that I'm on the right track. :) Love to you and your family! Michelle Hi Alex,

You just hit on exactly why I subscribed to your blog the very first time I read it. As a blogger, you are “real,” genuine, and comfortable in humbly sharing yourself with your readers…in service of us all riding this journey of life together. I didn’t need to think twice about whether or not I wanted to stay in touch with you. I love surrounding myself with people like you, who believe that life is good and care about making the journey as enjoyable as possible!

When I started my blog early last year, I remember my heart pounding before I hit “publish” on my first several posts. Because in doing so, I was stepping up to the plate and sharing “me” with the world. And of course I enjoyed the creative outlet of expression, but the even bigger thrill was knowing that my stories were resonating with others; they could either see themselves in my stories or they could receive inspiration to fuel them forward in their own story.

It’s a pretty cool honor to be a blogger, huh?

I have been “writing about what I love” as you suggest. And I’m so humbled to say that the more I do just that, the more my readers say they want more!

Thanks for sharing “you” with us, and thank you for your affirmation to me that I’m on the right track. :)

Love to you and your family!
Michelle

]]> By: Hulbert http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12119 Hulbert Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:29:56 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12119 Nice post Alex. It can be hard to write about ourselves or another person without embarrassing us or them. I like how you mentioned about focusing on one's behavior and not the person, and how we learn something from their behavior. Recently, I interviewed my brother about he got caught by the police for drinking under the influence. I made sure that anything he didn't want me to write about, I didn't. But I kept his voice in there for personality. I also included what his thoughts were during this nightmare experience. Readers want to know that that there is a real person behind the article that they are reading. Being transparent helps them reassure that there is. Nice post Alex. It can be hard to write about ourselves or another person without embarrassing us or them. I like how you mentioned about focusing on one’s behavior and not the person, and how we learn something from their behavior.

Recently, I interviewed my brother about he got caught by the police for drinking under the influence. I made sure that anything he didn’t want me to write about, I didn’t. But I kept his voice in there for personality. I also included what his thoughts were during this nightmare experience.

Readers want to know that that there is a real person behind the article that they are reading. Being transparent helps them reassure that there is.

]]> By: Kevin M. http://writetodone.com/2010/02/11/how-to-be-transparent-without-being-too-personal/#comment-12116 Kevin M. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:08:36 +0000 http://writetodone.com/?p=2114#comment-12116 Great post! I have worked hard at being transparent in my blog. These are great tips to keep in mind! Great post! I have worked hard at being transparent in my blog. These are great tips to keep in mind!

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