The Importance of Being Earnest

It is a truth universally acknowledged that insincerity of feeling on the part of the author can be detected with a close reading of the text.

Why is it so important for the author to mean what they say, especially when they could create a perfectly good piece without it?


Words have power - this is a maxim that is oft repeated, yet relatively ignored when it comes to writing. Attracting the attention of the reader, keeping it is important - but what is vital is to be sincere about what one wishes to express through that particular piece.

Sincerity of feeling, thought, and expression, is indispensable if the author wishes to make a connection with the reader. The universality of a text is always called into question, because of its specifics - because truth is no more a singularity and is relative from person to person. No matter how alien the culture, or incomprehensible the subject, it is the earnestness of the author in speaking their mind, expressing that particular feeling, their attempt to persuading the reader to believe what they wish to make them believe, that makes it ring true for the reader.

Intensity, especially in writing, is not a bad thing if used properly. There is a tendency in the present day, to portray a sense of vulnerability, of failure, of shortcoming, in order to gain attention, especially on social media. This is an instance of misuse - specifically, overuse, for the wrong reasons. Here, one finds an intensity of expression, of words, meant to evoke certain feelings in the reader, but where none of the author are present.

It is up to the reader to judge where she finds the author to be earnest, and where the author pretends to be earnest. A work of literature is a contract between author and reader - and it is the duty of the author to fulfill her part, by being sincere in what she wants to convey through her writing.