A Good Expert

There is a tendency when writing personal growth essays or books – which, broadly speaking, is what I do – to quote a lot of experts, particularly those experts with recognizable names. It’s a very understandable impulse. At the core, all personal growth writing suggests that the reader try doing something differently or seeing the world differently. Why, the writer might ask him or herself, should the reader take my word for it? Why should they believe me that letting thoughts go or being present or forgiving themselves for their mistakes will improve their lives?

And so, here come the experts – Eckart Tolle or Byron Katie or Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein is my favorite. If he said it, then it absolutely has to be true. Who would want to argue with Einstein? There’s nothing wrong with reminding the reader that you, the author, are not the only one in human history who thought, say, trying to be someone you’re not was a recipe for failure. I myself will sometimes quote the writers I’ve interviewed if I like the way they’ve phrased something. We’re all learning from each other, after all.

At some point, however, you have to step forward and be the expert. This is not always so easy. I do not feel like an expert most of the time. I just feel like me, and I’m not that interested in what I already know. Mostly my attention is on what I’m learning or discovering. This is good because my expertise is based on what I’ve learned, and the most important things I’ve learned were taught to me from what can only be described as failure. That is, I tried caring more about what people thought of my stuff than what I thought about it and I felt uncreative. I tried proving that I “had what it took” and I never could. On and on. I’ve committed every writing sin a person can commit, and I’m here to tell you about it.

A good expert has to be humble. It’s true that I must assume that what didn’t work for me wouldn’t work for anyone. I’ll never be able to prove this, but all the advice and reassurance I’ve ever given has been based on the belief that I am not special. I’m unique, but so are we all. I find this comforting. I always feel loneliest when I see myself as set apart from everyone else. It seems like a reasonable goal for an artist, but the spotlight is where you are meant to find what you have in common with all the other souls – the ones who are looking, just as you have been, for who they really are.

If you like the ideas and perspectives expressed here, feel free to contact me about individual coaching and group workshops.

William KenowerWriting, William Kenower, Expertise, Experienc, FailureComment