Finding Your Voice

"Every person has something to say that only they can say". That statement has changed my life.

That statement comes from a chapter in Mary Pipher’s book “Writing to Change the World”.

I’ll say it again. You are the only person who can say what you have to say.

You are the only one who has experienced all that you have experienced. You are the only one who can conclude what you have concluded. You owe it to yourself and the world to share that.

Do you realize that everyone has the potential to unleash great novels and give expert advice on a myriad of subjects? Yes, even YOU.

If you're like me, I used to put off writing because I didn't think anyone would be willing to listen to what I had to say if I didn't hold a master's degree in the subject or have documented proof of how I changed the lives of thousands of seminar attendees with one of my four hundred live appearances.

I now know that this could not be further from the truth. People read what I have to say simply because I dared to take the time to write it. Obviously, it’ll take a bit more to keep them coming back for more. But, your style gets better with practice.

You have to start with what you know, whatever that is. Explore that. Simply sit down and write. If all you can manage at first is to make a list or scribble a few notes, then pat yourself on the back. You have begun writing; you are on your way. I now push myself to write every day. Some days I write more than others, but I write every day.

Contrary to what you may think, writing creates more to write about, not less. You don't run out of ideas, they are born while writing other topics. So, the best way to conceive more new ideas is to write down your first ones. Incubating them in your head won’t give birth to them. Let them loose! Set them free so more can arrive!

I’ll give you my own personal example that happened over this past weekend. I was thinking about a co-worker who I overhead complaining about not being able to eat pecan pie anymore since she figured out she was allergic to pecans. I had a recipe I had been using for years for Oatmeal Pie that tastes just like Pecan Pie but without the pecans. It occurred to me that others may have this same problem. I dug out my recipe for her and I decided to create a hub about it while I was at it. While creating the hub, it reminded me of Thanksgiving. As I thought about Thanksgiving I remembered our very non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner last year of trying buffalo burgers. That reminded me of the ongoing ‘argument’ that my husband and I have about whether or not the American buffalo is really a buffalo or a bison. That led me to a little research and another hub was born, “Buffalo vs. Two 350 lbs Rednecks in 1967 VW Beetle”.

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, here are few questions to help you.

1. What are some funny things you’ve witnessed? Think back into your childhood. Maybe it’s something your dad said or did. Maybe it’s some mischievous thing you and your sister or brother did. Example: My dad was a comical guy. He always had funny things to say. Once, my mom was complaining of a headache. He replied, “with a head like that, it ought to hurt”.

2. Did anything cool happen to you or those around you during your school days? Did you go to school with anyone who is now famous? Example: I went to school with a guy who went on to be a country music star producing records and who became the opening act for some big name people.

3. Have you met anyone famous? What was it like? Maybe you could write about what you’d do IF you did meet them?

4. Have you had any funny things happen to you while on vacation? Example: Check out my other hubs for just a few examples of things that happened to me at hotel in England.

5. Have you worked with any strange co-workers with unusual habits? Example: I had a male assistant who would freak if he saw someone’s sweater touching the floor as it hung from the back of a chair. Can we say OCD?

6. Have you met anyone who uses inappropriate words in sentences or mispronounces common words? Example: I used to have a boss that called fringe benefits, “French” benefits and he seriously thought that’s what they were called.

7. Have you ever invented something or thought of a better way to do something or know someone who has?

8. If you could teach your kids ten things you’ve learned about life, what would they be?

9. Do you have any recommendations for places to go or things to see?

10. Have you ever participated in an extreme sport or done something most people haven’t dared to try?

11. What would you do if you won the lottery?

12. How would you change the world if you could?

13. What is the one thing your mama taught you? Or your grandma?

14. What was your favorite teacher like?

15. What was your favorite pet like? Did you have any unusual pets?

16. What are you afraid of? Know any good ghost stories? Have you ever seen a ghost? Do you believe in ghosts?

17. What is your favorite movie or book?

18. Who do you idolize? Who would you love to meet?

19. If you could travel back in time where would you go and why?

20. What is your favorite music?

21. What sports do you like? Do you have any funny sports stories?

22. What was your first automobile? What is the car you would most like to have?

23. If you live to be 100 years old how would you want to celebrate it?

24. What is your favorite holiday? Has anything funny happened around the holidays?

25. What traditions does your family observe? Can you trace their roots?