Writing style and character in displaying reality

Some writers feel that the first draft is for themselves and the second is for the public, but that can be where style gets in the way of substance or truth. When Baudelaire says, “always be a poet, even in prose” reality can more easily fly away in a glut of metaphors. Personally, in my zeal to be honest I make too many grammatical mistakes.

Personalities work that way too, social personas can get in the way of honesty and courage; carried too far it creates phonies. But social interactions are usually oiled by polite lies, without which people might be at each others throats. And people like to be amused rather than dwell on uncomfortable truths after a hard day in the swamps.

Reality and truth can often be unpleasant, especially if the very base of grammar and style contains lies about reality---many truths were unknown when grammar developed. Science too has its own nerdish style of writing and defining the truth and often misses communications skills. (sociobiologist E. O. Wilson is an exception). And many philosophers sail away from reality on the wings of pedagogery.

I find that courage and truth can appear at any caste or education level, the strait-talking longshoremen or farmer often speak more truths than the PhD. It could be that ones reality and ones style is an inherent character trait.

Very few writers had both great style yet reveal many truths about reality. It's a small group. For me Shakespeare and Nietzsche come to mind.