![d'oh!](https://static.lushstories.com/emoticons/lush/forum/eusa_doh.gif)
Speaking with somebody earlier, and after having read Sisyphus' competition entry, The Poet and His Muse, it reminded me that for a while, I have been thinking about how readers view us, the author, and what we are willing to share with them about ourselves.
I think there is a difference between stories and poetry, as I find that my poetry usually (but not always) comes from the outpourings of intense emotion, a struggle to find some kind of cathartic healing.
But the point is, just because I write it, it doesn't mean that you are hearing my Real Voice. Just because I can imagine it, empathise with it, and describe it to you, it doesn't mean you are looking into my soul every time or in every word, sentence, paragraph or piece.
Many, many people have told me they want to "know more about" me, or "get to know" me better. Why? Who do they think they are wanting to get to know? The shy, fat little blushing virgin with the green wellies? The crude, boisterous and confident Cinderella who goes to the ball with double-ended dildo up her bum? The business man who tans the backside of his missus for forgetting to pick up the compost, and then royally shags her? The slut who gets off whilst reading a story, imagining the writer is watching her? Only one of these people is me, and beyond what I have written, I am not willing to really share any further, so far.
Somebody told me earlier, and I do hope they don't mind me sharing this, "What we write is not always 'us'." They were thinking about people wanting to know the person behind the product, rather than the product itself.
I think that in order for people to enjoy a good "product", there must be substance behind the product. You cannot successfully have good writing without a skilled writer. But where does the interest with the real writer, and the writing itself, have boundaries? Does it? Should it? Can it?
I am very reluctant to share much of myself with anybody, including my closest friends. I share those parts of me that I cannot keep squashed in, sometimes because I dare to, other times because I am unable to hide it. But not even my friends, on here or in real life, truly know the person behind what I produce. And I like it that way. I'm a private person, for all I can share certain things with certain people.
The person I was speaking to earlier definitely has a fan base, which is how the conversation started. Indeed, I had to kick myself when they started talking to me, as if such a "famous" person on here would bother to spend time with me. But they are just a normal, real, lovely person, even though they are highly skilled and utilise their talent, and it is foolish of me to expect them to be otherwise.
So how do you view this? How much of the Real You is in your writing? Are you happy to share "Yourself" with what some might call a fan, or just people interested in your writing? Do you reply to messages with revelations of yourself? How do you respond to people wanting to know more about You? Are you happy to write your whole self and pure character into your stories, or do you usually pull things that are not really of "You" into your work, as I do?
I realise these are lots of questions, but I would be grateful and interested to know how you feel about this subject, if you wish to share. I'm nosy, you see.
![evil4](https://static.lushstories.com/emoticons/lush/forum/evil6.gif)
I thought about putting a post in the Ask the Readers thread, but I'm scared of what the answers might be.
![tard](https://static.lushstories.com/emoticons/lush/forum/tard.gif)