Horns which are put on do not stick properly – South African proverb
One of the most frustrating periods of my writing journey was not realizing that I had to have my own voice. I saw the works of many great authors, how their work was excelling and how readers resonated with their work. I initially thought that I had to use certain words and styles in order to grow a massive audience or connect with successful writers. When I realized I had to come from a place of self-knowledge and experience, the dynamics changed for me. Frustration melted away and opportunities started pouring in. Not only did my writing improve, but I quickly gained the respect of successful creatives, which meant so much to me and only encouraged me to keep going.
True creativity stems from our own unique, lived experience. No one can mimic or manipulate it. Trying to incorporate someone else’s unique experience into your own only leads to misdirection and confusion.
Whether you’re at a fresh starting point in your writing journey or are trying to revamp it, it’s important to consider some starting points that will get you on track. At the end of the day, a published product has to be a good product; important elements fall into play when you choose to craft a story or any literary product of sorts.
Reach for knowledge — from any source — with your two feet planted firmly on the ground. Hold it in your hands and examine it objectively. If and when you’re ready, internalize and embody it. In your own way. On your own terms.
Jennifer Hamady Finding Your Voice
Powerful Starting Points
Go beyond the “why”
When I first decided to make writing a bigger part of my life, I had to decide what perspective or experience I was going to use. I could only use what I knew at the time – trying to start over after a failed marriage and numerous events of disappointment. From there, the content grew and the voice grew as well. It certainly didn’t happen overnight but writing from a place of knowledge help me build my starting point and create a vision from there.
Practice equals building
The fact of the matter is, the more you write the better (and comfortable) you become at the craft. The earlier mistakes I made was trying to be ideal with my writing. The environment had to be perfect (access to a typewriter and a cabin with a fireplace in the woods is not very easy to find…except if it’s Hallmark), the tone had to be a certain way, and it had to be what I thought was appealing, even though I wasn’t sharing it with anyone at the time. All wrong. I learned that I just simply had to write. It didn’t have to make sense and it didn’t have to impress anyone. If an audience is the goal, that’s when editing and determining the value you’re giving comes into play.
Make Real Connections
Unpopular opinion: Clicking “subscribe” or “follow” is not a real connection. Those who know me understand I’m not a social media person. But I will say that I have made some great partnerships and friendships from social media. A vital tool for me to gain confidence in my writing voice was meeting people who had already reached where I was trying to go or were in the same phase of journey as me. A lot of these conversations were birthed from book events, conferences…the fun stuff! Having conversations of similar struggles or discovering ways to grow are what helped me immensely. I realized that I wasn’t alone in trying to build a voice that could be relatable, but that it takes time to get to that point. Good manuscripts take years to accomplish, stemming from awful, confusing first drafts and endless editing sessions. That’s why it’s important to connect with people who will give you constructive and honest feedback, and with people that resonate with your content.
Armor Up
I’ll get straight to it – my inbox is full of rejection letters. It’s gotten to the point where other writers and myself joke around with you has the most entries on their tracking spreadsheets. In the beginning, those letters were definitely hurtful, especially the publishers I really wanted to work with. But over time, each letter has served as a building block for me. I’m learning to be more confident in my content. Just because there hasn’t been a “yes,” doesn’t mean I have a good story to tell. It also doesn’t mean that my content is not valuable. No matter if you’re a writer or Olympian; if the “no’s” keep coming, keep going. Your skin will get thicker over time.
Read
Exploring other writers in your dream genre is a rewarding experience. You get an idea of how different approaches are used to craft a story. It may also help you discover your own approach, which is extremely important in developing your writing voice. Besides visiting the nearest bookstore, joining a reading group or book clubs can be a lot of fun. You’ll connect with people with similar interests as you and can also provide eye openers on stories you’ve read or may become interested in reading – all of this fuels creativity.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being inspired by others, or learning from another person’s journey. The trick is, making it your own. I believe that’s where the actual magic happens. No matter how big or small your intended audience may be, the world needs to hear your story. Make everything you’ve learned from others your own, that’s where knowledge turns into wisdom. Grow your own horns.
Happy creating.