To young writers everywhere 
            looking for your authentic voice
and to create authentic voices
            look into herstory for inspirations 
listen and observe your 
            mothers, sisters, daughters, and yourself 
Ask questions
         whatever gender you are 

         you can do the following (see poem).

Authenticity

To write with authenticity is 
   choosing 
          to write with truth
        putting aside any 
          shackles, biases, and oppressions 
                being honest, courageous, 
                   creative, skilful, and 
                          brilliant.

It’s moving to where there is 
              balance
            finding our voices in all their 
                diversity 
               winging their ways into 
                 every writing genre;
                    popular to poetic,
                      academic to artistic, protesting, 
                           questioning
                                and free
                  respecting and remembering those 
                          paved the way for us.

                        (c) June Perkins

To find out more visit the reflection on the panel at

Oz Comic Con Home Grown, Brisbane

True Narratives