A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.
~Douglas Pagels
Bloggers I Heart: Blogger Dad
I love writing for Writer Dad. It’s tremendous fun. Though the whirlpool of words is a ball, the real benefit of the blog is the people who’ve entered my life.
Comments are as constant as coffee; I love them thrice as much. Every so often, a comment leaves the blog’s basement behind, then leaks into an email… then nine… soon a hundred.
I’d like to plant my flag in new tradition. I think we’ll call it, “Bloggers I Heart.”
Bloggers I heart are the bloggers with whom I have a running dialogue. These are the ladies and gentleman who, were I in their city, I couldn’t imagine bread not being broken.
Anyone who has been with us longer than a week will need no introduction, but I’ll send out a sentence anyway. It’s only fitting I start with David Wright; alter ego, Blogger Dad. I stole his name, he stole my theme, and now here we are an armload of weeks later. We’ve collaborated before and will again. I don’t know how many days have passed without at least a single email, but they were few and probably sad.
Without further ado, my friend, Blogger Dad:
My Feet Never Touched the Bahamas, but My Voice Found Paradise.
Are you writing in YOUR voice or are you mimicking someone else’s?
The best way to show you how to find your voice is to tell you how I found mine.
I used to think that writing humor was easy. My influences growing up were 80’s-era Letterman, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin, Saturday Night Live “when it was good” and columnist, Dave Barry. I ate comedy for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snacks (emphasis on the snacks). I knew that someday I would be making people laugh. All I needed was an audience.
I started writing for a local paper three years ago, convinced that I was going to be the Next Dave Barry. Unfortunately, the paper wasn‘t looking for a columnist. They assigned me to the political beat. While there is plenty of unintentional humor to be found in covering local politics, I rarely got a chance to flex my humor muscles in straight news stories.
While I plugged away at my beat, I practiced writing a humor column in hopes my bosses would see how brilliant I am and would give me a shot. Soon, I realized that writing humor is hard. Hell, it’s almost work.
I showed a few samples to my editor and mentor, Jason Whited. He gave some advice, carefully couching criticisms within compliments to protect my fragile writer’s ego. One of the things he said shocked me, though.
“This isn’t your voice,” he said.
“Huh?” I asked, “Of course it is! I wrote it.”
“Yeah, but this isn’t the YOU that I talk to. You haven’t found your voice yet.”
Though not intentional, my first attempts at a column were merely pale imitations of Dave Barry. My writing was like a decent karaoke performance. I sounded enough like the singer I was imitating, and some tone deaf people might even have found it listenable, but there was something lacking.
Jason’s advice was this, “Write from your heart, write often, and you will find your voice.”
Stop trying to be the next (insert writer name here)
In January 2006, I was asked to step up to the plate.
My publisher made a bet with me that I couldn’t lose 100 pounds before the year was up. If I won, he would pay for a trip for me and my wife to the Bahamas. If I lost, well, I’d be publicly embarrassed. But even if I lost, I was still a winner, because I was getting a shot at writing a regular column every other week about my efforts.
This was my chance to prove myself!
Just let go
My first piece had to be a good one. No, make that great! I wrote a few different drafts, starting out with an emphasis on “the funny” and once again aping Dave Barry’s style. On the night prior to my deadline, I was sitting in front of my computer, cycling through different drafts of the column. I was attempting to cobble something together. It wasn’t working. Then a thought occurred to me – let go.
I deleted each of the drafts quickly and decisively, knowing that if I didn’t kill them without hesitation, I would never be able to.
I put on some music, closed my eyes and searched inside. I had to lay it all out on the page. I had to be brutally honest about a subject I’d tried to dance around for most of my life. I needed to expose myself as I’d never done before. I needed to do it with humor and heart. I opened my eyes and then wrote my ass off.
After reading my first column, Jason took me out to lunch and congratulated me.
“This made me weep, man,” he confessed while looking me in the eyes, “You, my friend, have got the gift. You’ve found your voice.”
I sure as hell don’t feel all that gifted, but I believe the second part of his statement.
I wrote a lot that year, even if I didn’t lose a lot of weight. (Six pounds, for the record, so obviously my feet never touched tropical paradise.) I wrote about diets, my relationship with my father, working out and a number of other topics which people still come up to me today and ask me about. Many people told me that my columns made them laugh and cry. It was amazing to make such connections with readers.
I discovered that I wasn’t a straight up humor writer. I would never have discovered my voice if I tried to stay in the mold I had created for myself. I had to break free and be afraid to fail at what I thought I wanted to be. I am a hybrid writer, sometimes funny, but best when I write from the heart.
I know that my journey to great writing is far from over. I’m sure I will struggle for years to be as good as I’d like to be. Fortunately, I’m no longer trying to be someone else.
I’m singing my own songs now.
Blogger Dad
Nine out of ten dentists agree, teeth are ten times whiter with Blogger Dad in their reader. You can subscribe for free, right here. In you’d like to be informed of mealtimes, this is where he tweets.
About Sean Platt
Don’t we all want to be Dave Barry?
Letting go is like you say–it’s deleting things when I know they’re not “me.” For me, it’s also a lot about not over thinking it, over planning–I just get down and bust it out.
Oktober Fives last blog post..My Scalene Triangle of Poverty
Don’t we all want to be Dave Barry?
Letting go is like you say–it’s deleting things when I know they’re not “me.” For me, it’s also a lot about not over thinking it, over planning–I just get down and bust it out.
Oktober Fives last blog post..My Scalene Triangle of Poverty
Hi Writer Dad – What a fabulous guest post from Blogger Dad. You two make a great team, and obviously great friends, as well.
I love the part about finding your voice. We all need to do that, don’t we?
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Did You Pick Your Blog Niche Or Did It Pick You
Hi Writer Dad – What a fabulous guest post from Blogger Dad. You two make a great team, and obviously great friends, as well.
I love the part about finding your voice. We all need to do that, don’t we?
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Did You Pick Your Blog Niche Or Did It Pick You
Oh wise wise words BD.
I think that is most writer’s stumbling block. They discover someone they love or want to be and try to emulate them and it never rings true.
How hilarious that you wanted to write comedy and ended up in the political arena!
I agree that comedy is a really hard thing to ‘do’. I think it just comes naturally to some people. I have a friend (no longer a writer unfortunately, he’s an editor on a national tabloid here in England) and he’s the most naturally funny person I’ve ever met. Can make you laugh out loud all the time and has a real ‘aura’ about him. I am so jealous of him, and I do know people who try to be like him but it just doesn’t work!
Really glad you’ve found your voice and were good enough to let us all share.
Taras last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: The tomboy gets girlie
Oh wise wise words BD.
I think that is most writer’s stumbling block. They discover someone they love or want to be and try to emulate them and it never rings true.
How hilarious that you wanted to write comedy and ended up in the political arena!
I agree that comedy is a really hard thing to ‘do’. I think it just comes naturally to some people. I have a friend (no longer a writer unfortunately, he’s an editor on a national tabloid here in England) and he’s the most naturally funny person I’ve ever met. Can make you laugh out loud all the time and has a real ‘aura’ about him. I am so jealous of him, and I do know people who try to be like him but it just doesn’t work!
Really glad you’ve found your voice and were good enough to let us all share.
Taras last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: The tomboy gets girlie
Just followed the underpants onto Twitter. Great post!
Betsy Wuebkers last blog post..ENERGY
Just followed the underpants onto Twitter. Great post!
Betsy Wuebkers last blog post..ENERGY
Wow, too many Dads means too many good pieces of advice. Great post!
http://yinvsyang.com
PJ_Normzs last blog post..How to Properly Plan For Success Today
Wow, too many Dads means too many good pieces of advice. Great post!
http://yinvsyang.com
PJ_Normzs last blog post..How to Properly Plan For Success Today
What a great find – your voice that is – Blogger Dad! You tell a wonderful story – a story of how you came to be – and that’s pretty cool if you ask me!
Thanks, Writer Dad, for starting this series – you’ve started off with a winner!
Lances last blog post..Poverty Close to Home – Blog Action Day 2008
What a great find – your voice that is – Blogger Dad! You tell a wonderful story – a story of how you came to be – and that’s pretty cool if you ask me!
Thanks, Writer Dad, for starting this series – you’ve started off with a winner!
Lances last blog post..Poverty Close to Home – Blog Action Day 2008
I think that was a great plan, to just sit, put on great music and write from the heart. The heart is where our voices are. Hmmm. Very nice post!
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..My Dog Missed the Memo
I think that was a great plan, to just sit, put on great music and write from the heart. The heart is where our voices are. Hmmm. Very nice post!
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..My Dog Missed the Memo
I don’t even know who Dave Barry is, so I guess I don’t need to worry about trying to emulate him *chuckle*
To be honest, I never read a single blog, nor humourist column before I started blogging. I grew up devouring Erma Bombeck and James Herriot. I can’t say I try to write like them. I think I read them because they appealed to me, because it is how I think and write. Chicken/Egg, Egg/Chicken?
There are a million blogs out there, and one of my filters is whether the writing feels ‘real’ to me, or whether it is forced. Glad you found your voice, Blogger Dad. It sure feels real to me!
Urban Panthers last blog post..How to drive like a native
I don’t even know who Dave Barry is, so I guess I don’t need to worry about trying to emulate him *chuckle*
To be honest, I never read a single blog, nor humourist column before I started blogging. I grew up devouring Erma Bombeck and James Herriot. I can’t say I try to write like them. I think I read them because they appealed to me, because it is how I think and write. Chicken/Egg, Egg/Chicken?
There are a million blogs out there, and one of my filters is whether the writing feels ‘real’ to me, or whether it is forced. Glad you found your voice, Blogger Dad. It sure feels real to me!
Urban Panthers last blog post..How to drive like a native
Writer Dad, you beat me to the punch on featuring Blogger Dad! Well, I’m still going to do it, but I’ll wait a week or so. =-)
Blogger Dad, voice for a writer is like a painter finding his unique and consistent style. I once took a writer’s workshop at Rice called, Creative Writing, Finding Your Voice. On the first night our teacher walked in and stated, “I don’t know who it is that names these classes, but I’m going to tell you people, I’ve been writing for almost 40 years and not until the last 6 did I find my voice, so if they think I can teach you how to find your voice in 2 hours, every tuesday night over the next 12 weeks then they’re too stupid to being heading up the English Department.” Most of us had no clue what he was talking about, but it ended up being the best workshop I ever was a part of.
Some people try their darndest to be writers, but never do, while others find themselves and then become writers. You’ve found yourself and that’s why I read yourself daily.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Pants On Fire
Writer Dad, you beat me to the punch on featuring Blogger Dad! Well, I’m still going to do it, but I’ll wait a week or so. =-)
Blogger Dad, voice for a writer is like a painter finding his unique and consistent style. I once took a writer’s workshop at Rice called, Creative Writing, Finding Your Voice. On the first night our teacher walked in and stated, “I don’t know who it is that names these classes, but I’m going to tell you people, I’ve been writing for almost 40 years and not until the last 6 did I find my voice, so if they think I can teach you how to find your voice in 2 hours, every tuesday night over the next 12 weeks then they’re too stupid to being heading up the English Department.” Most of us had no clue what he was talking about, but it ended up being the best workshop I ever was a part of.
Some people try their darndest to be writers, but never do, while others find themselves and then become writers. You’ve found yourself and that’s why I read yourself daily.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Pants On Fire
Love it! I experienced a similar thing as a writer, I didn’t begin to find my voice until I stopped trying so hard and just let it come. Similar experience as a teacher and speaker. We start out largely as parrots, then, given the latitude, encouragement and confidence, something unique emerges.
To me, though, maybe the greatest barrier is the knowledge that if you write from your own heart, in your own voice…and people don’t connect with it, then you lose the excuse of saying, “hey, it was just my Dave Barry imitation they weren’t vibing with.” It’s personal. And offering yourself up on that level is hard, really hard.
Thanks for sharing this!
Jonathan Fieldss last blog post..Blog Action Day: Kids Helping Kids
Love it! I experienced a similar thing as a writer, I didn’t begin to find my voice until I stopped trying so hard and just let it come. Similar experience as a teacher and speaker. We start out largely as parrots, then, given the latitude, encouragement and confidence, something unique emerges.
To me, though, maybe the greatest barrier is the knowledge that if you write from your own heart, in your own voice…and people don’t connect with it, then you lose the excuse of saying, “hey, it was just my Dave Barry imitation they weren’t vibing with.” It’s personal. And offering yourself up on that level is hard, really hard.
Thanks for sharing this!
Jonathan Fieldss last blog post..Blog Action Day: Kids Helping Kids
Ah, this is a fantastic piece. I wish I had someone come up to me and say “This is it, you’ve found it!” and then we could do a happy dance together!
Maybe someday. I wonder if I could ever write humor. :)
Ah, this is a fantastic piece. I wish I had someone come up to me and say “This is it, you’ve found it!” and then we could do a happy dance together!
Maybe someday. I wonder if I could ever write humor. :)
Thanks Sean, I am honored to be your first “Blogs I Heart.” Thanks for sharing your space with me today. I hope I was able to maintain the high standards you set for this place, or at least not drag them too far down :)
Oktoer Five – Well said. I actualy had a different intro for this guest piece, one that I really liked. However, it didn’t work with the rest of the piece so I had to cut it, even though it hurt.
Barbara – Thank you. Although, I believe you found your voice some time ago.
Tara – Thank you. It was rather fitting that I would up writing about city politics. As for finding my voice, I should add that I’ve yet to find my voice in my fiction. It will take some more time before I sound less like the writers I admire.
Betsy – LOL! Thank you.
PJ_Normz – Thank you.
Lance – Thank you. Given the illustration, it could be my comic-like origin story.
Wendi-Kelly – Thank you. Music helps me focus. Although I needed queit when I was writing news stories involving complicated issues which I was struggling to get just right.
Urban Panther – Thank you for the kind words. While Dave Barry does appeal to me because of his sense of humor and the way he thinks, he has a distinct writing style which I would never have thought of on my own. But when I read it, I loved it. I’m sure at some point, if it hasn’t happened already, some elements will pop in because his voice is so ingrained into my head.
CK Lunchbox – Thank you in advance. You just like me for the cape, though, right? As for the creative writing teacher, what SHOULD the class have been called? I’ve never taken a class, though I do LOVE to read and talk about the writing process. Sometime I enjoy reading about an author or philosopher or their thought process more than I do their stories.
Jonathan Fields – Well said, thank you. And yes, it IS rough when you don’t make the connections you thought you might. The odd thing is that in my day-to-day life, I don’t really care so much how many people get me or like me, yet I do seem to care on the web. That’s probably because when you meet someone in person, there are so many little things which can get in the way, your appearance, internal stereotypes, the car you drive, the way you’re standing, your expression, whether you’re feeling well, just so many little things which can be the basis for not making a connection. Yet, on the web, we are dealing strictly with ideas and if you are rejected for your ideas, it cuts deeper.
Blogger Dads last blog post..My first guest post
Thanks Sean, I am honored to be your first “Blogs I Heart.” Thanks for sharing your space with me today. I hope I was able to maintain the high standards you set for this place, or at least not drag them too far down :)
Oktoer Five – Well said. I actualy had a different intro for this guest piece, one that I really liked. However, it didn’t work with the rest of the piece so I had to cut it, even though it hurt.
Barbara – Thank you. Although, I believe you found your voice some time ago.
Tara – Thank you. It was rather fitting that I would up writing about city politics. As for finding my voice, I should add that I’ve yet to find my voice in my fiction. It will take some more time before I sound less like the writers I admire.
Betsy – LOL! Thank you.
PJ_Normz – Thank you.
Lance – Thank you. Given the illustration, it could be my comic-like origin story.
Wendi-Kelly – Thank you. Music helps me focus. Although I needed queit when I was writing news stories involving complicated issues which I was struggling to get just right.
Urban Panther – Thank you for the kind words. While Dave Barry does appeal to me because of his sense of humor and the way he thinks, he has a distinct writing style which I would never have thought of on my own. But when I read it, I loved it. I’m sure at some point, if it hasn’t happened already, some elements will pop in because his voice is so ingrained into my head.
CK Lunchbox – Thank you in advance. You just like me for the cape, though, right? As for the creative writing teacher, what SHOULD the class have been called? I’ve never taken a class, though I do LOVE to read and talk about the writing process. Sometime I enjoy reading about an author or philosopher or their thought process more than I do their stories.
Jonathan Fields – Well said, thank you. And yes, it IS rough when you don’t make the connections you thought you might. The odd thing is that in my day-to-day life, I don’t really care so much how many people get me or like me, yet I do seem to care on the web. That’s probably because when you meet someone in person, there are so many little things which can get in the way, your appearance, internal stereotypes, the car you drive, the way you’re standing, your expression, whether you’re feeling well, just so many little things which can be the basis for not making a connection. Yet, on the web, we are dealing strictly with ideas and if you are rejected for your ideas, it cuts deeper.
Blogger Dads last blog post..My first guest post
Oktober Five: I do. I got accused of trying to ape him when I first started, though I swear I was never trying. That kind of stuff does steep in our unconscious though, I’m sure.
Barbara: Dave’s as good as an online friend could be. Being authentic with our voice is liberating.
Lance: Thanks. It was marinating for a while, and it’s time had arrived.
Urban: Hiya Panther! Nice to read you. Dave Barry is a Florida columnist, though he’s nationally syndicated (and has written a couple of humor books in addition to some Peter Pan children’s stories). He is SUPER funny, makes you cry from laughter when you read him. I’m with you. I don’t particularly care what people talk about, so long as they sound like they mean it.
CK Lunchbox: Yay! I win.
Dave: My pleasure. You couldn’t drag this place down if you tried. Thanks for the tip on using a separate document to comment. I’m doing it for the first time right now and it’s mucho awesome. Have fun with all the people telling you how much they like you.
Oktober Five: I do. I got accused of trying to ape him when I first started, though I swear I was never trying. That kind of stuff does steep in our unconscious though, I’m sure.
Barbara: Dave’s as good as an online friend could be. Being authentic with our voice is liberating.
Lance: Thanks. It was marinating for a while, and it’s time had arrived.
Urban: Hiya Panther! Nice to read you. Dave Barry is a Florida columnist, though he’s nationally syndicated (and has written a couple of humor books in addition to some Peter Pan children’s stories). He is SUPER funny, makes you cry from laughter when you read him. I’m with you. I don’t particularly care what people talk about, so long as they sound like they mean it.
CK Lunchbox: Yay! I win.
Dave: My pleasure. You couldn’t drag this place down if you tried. Thanks for the tip on using a separate document to comment. I’m doing it for the first time right now and it’s mucho awesome. Have fun with all the people telling you how much they like you.
Thanks for the encouraging lesson… I’m still not sure if I’ve found my voice, but I appreciated reading about your journey as a writer!
Gidgets last blog post..Blog Action Day & Hippos Toes Fair Trade Clothing
Thanks for the encouraging lesson… I’m still not sure if I’ve found my voice, but I appreciated reading about your journey as a writer!
Gidgets last blog post..Blog Action Day & Hippos Toes Fair Trade Clothing
BloggerDad, what a fabulous story.
It’s wonderful to get such an insight into what makes people who they are.
Of course you know full well what I think of your writing. I write on your blog more than you do and more than I do on my own. All I can say is…. Sorry about that.
This issue of voice is intriguing. It’s something I’d never heard of until I started blogging, but I’m all too conscious of it now.
I think you can pretty much turn your hand to most styles, although I think you should leave ‘Gansta’ to the big boys – me and Sean. There. That’s my advice to you.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..Setting My Stall Out
BloggerDad, what a fabulous story.
It’s wonderful to get such an insight into what makes people who they are.
Of course you know full well what I think of your writing. I write on your blog more than you do and more than I do on my own. All I can say is…. Sorry about that.
This issue of voice is intriguing. It’s something I’d never heard of until I started blogging, but I’m all too conscious of it now.
I think you can pretty much turn your hand to most styles, although I think you should leave ‘Gansta’ to the big boys – me and Sean. There. That’s my advice to you.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..Setting My Stall Out
I think Jonathon really has the right of it. Being unique and writing from your soul creates great vulnerability…like walking out your front door naked. It’s writers like Dave and Sean and David and others who are willing to BE vulnerable and interact that make it easy to feel close to them.
Good job, you two. :)
B J Keltzs last blog post..Why a Night Owl Gets up Early When She Doesn’t Have To
I think Jonathon really has the right of it. Being unique and writing from your soul creates great vulnerability…like walking out your front door naked. It’s writers like Dave and Sean and David and others who are willing to BE vulnerable and interact that make it easy to feel close to them.
Good job, you two. :)
B J Keltzs last blog post..Why a Night Owl Gets up Early When She Doesn’t Have To
Finding my voice for my blog was as simple and as difficult of letting go of what people might think. I wanted to be Heather Armstrong and Jenny the Bloggess all rolled into one. But I discovered that’s just not me, not how I write. Which doesn’t mean I suck, either.
Finding my voice, or rather just letting it out unadulterated, brought me the kind of audience I prefer to large anonymous ones—that is, it brought me genuine friends.
stephs last blog post..Lessons in Literature
Finding my voice for my blog was as simple and as difficult of letting go of what people might think. I wanted to be Heather Armstrong and Jenny the Bloggess all rolled into one. But I discovered that’s just not me, not how I write. Which doesn’t mean I suck, either.
Finding my voice, or rather just letting it out unadulterated, brought me the kind of audience I prefer to large anonymous ones—that is, it brought me genuine friends.
stephs last blog post..Lessons in Literature
Dammit, another error. I meant as simple and as difficult AS letting go.
Grrr!
stephs last blog post..Lessons in Literature
Dammit, another error. I meant as simple and as difficult AS letting go.
Grrr!
stephs last blog post..Lessons in Literature
I think I have found my voice. What I haven’t found is my audience.
Chriss last blog post..I’m In Heaven
I think I have found my voice. What I haven’t found is my audience.
Chriss last blog post..I’m In Heaven
@Chris: What kind of audience do you want? I’ve got a nearly-patented, sure-fire way to build an audience that can be yours for 16 easy payments of $9.99. Cash or money order only. Limited time offer. Call now! Our operators are standing by.
Or I can just give it to you for free right now. Basically, it involves quitting your job and spending 10 hours a day reading and commenting on as many blogs as you can possibly find. Simply go to some place like zenhabits.net, find an article that has 90+ comments, click on every single comment author link, and comment on that person’s blog. Roughly one third of these people will come to your blog and comment. Then you will have your audience.
Of course, this process must be repeated daily. That’s OK, right? Or you can pay me those 16 payments of $9.99 and I’ll do it for you.
@Chris: What kind of audience do you want? I’ve got a nearly-patented, sure-fire way to build an audience that can be yours for 16 easy payments of $9.99. Cash or money order only. Limited time offer. Call now! Our operators are standing by.
Or I can just give it to you for free right now. Basically, it involves quitting your job and spending 10 hours a day reading and commenting on as many blogs as you can possibly find. Simply go to some place like zenhabits.net, find an article that has 90+ comments, click on every single comment author link, and comment on that person’s blog. Roughly one third of these people will come to your blog and comment. Then you will have your audience.
Of course, this process must be repeated daily. That’s OK, right? Or you can pay me those 16 payments of $9.99 and I’ll do it for you.
I want to be Erma Bombeck!!
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..Get the Scoop!
I want to be Erma Bombeck!!
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..Get the Scoop!
I find bits and pieces of the thousands of books I have read sneaking into my writing. I think that’s natural. We learn to write well by reading styles we emulate. I think once you throw in your own personality, and your two cents of knowledge (in your case, a whole quarter), you end up with a unique voice.
I actually think that I am Stephanie Plum’s long lost non-identical twin sister. That Janet Evanovich can write the funny!
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Morning Tunes
I find bits and pieces of the thousands of books I have read sneaking into my writing. I think that’s natural. We learn to write well by reading styles we emulate. I think once you throw in your own personality, and your two cents of knowledge (in your case, a whole quarter), you end up with a unique voice.
I actually think that I am Stephanie Plum’s long lost non-identical twin sister. That Janet Evanovich can write the funny!
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Morning Tunes
Hey, I like this post very much! It’s about finding our authentic voice. We tend to want to emulate others. But we forget that we may have a beautiful voice ourselves. It’s a great idea to sit quietly to allow inner selves to come through!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Should The Poor Mexican Fisherman Give Up Contentment For Cash?
Hey, I like this post very much! It’s about finding our authentic voice. We tend to want to emulate others. But we forget that we may have a beautiful voice ourselves. It’s a great idea to sit quietly to allow inner selves to come through!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Should The Poor Mexican Fisherman Give Up Contentment For Cash?
A very enjoyable article, Blogger Dad.
I suppose if we ever write what isn’t us, it will never be as good as it could be… Because we aren’t dipping as deep into our resources as we could.
But this then makes me wonder how fiction writers do it. They have to come up with all kinds of characters, and not all of those characters necessarily represent them!
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Paths to Excessive Wealth
A very enjoyable article, Blogger Dad.
I suppose if we ever write what isn’t us, it will never be as good as it could be… Because we aren’t dipping as deep into our resources as we could.
But this then makes me wonder how fiction writers do it. They have to come up with all kinds of characters, and not all of those characters necessarily represent them!
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Paths to Excessive Wealth
Gidget – Thank you for the nice words.
Dave – Thank you. And you’re welcome to write on my blog as much as you like. However, if you use words like “gansta” I may have to ban you.
B J Keltz – Thank you. Who knew that showing vulnerability would make you stronger? …Or will get you an atomic wedgie.
Steph – Well said. I prefer these intimate settings rather than the atmosphere of a stadium show.
Chris – What sort of audience are you seeking?
Oktober Five – LOL. Good, if tiring, advice. I think I’d rather stay anonymous than spend that many hours pursuing something as fleeting as popularity.
Hayden – I hear there’s a vacancy.
Jamie – Good advice.
Evelyn – Thank you and well said.
Bamboo Forest – Finding your voice is the same thing whether you’re writing a blog or fiction. It’s not about finding YOU but rather, YOUR voice, your style, your way of saying things. Of course, you may have different voices for different work. Like I mentioned in another comment, I have found my blogging/column writing voice. However, I am still working on my fiction voice.
Gidget – Thank you for the nice words.
Dave – Thank you. And you’re welcome to write on my blog as much as you like. However, if you use words like “gansta” I may have to ban you.
B J Keltz – Thank you. Who knew that showing vulnerability would make you stronger? …Or will get you an atomic wedgie.
Steph – Well said. I prefer these intimate settings rather than the atmosphere of a stadium show.
Chris – What sort of audience are you seeking?
Oktober Five – LOL. Good, if tiring, advice. I think I’d rather stay anonymous than spend that many hours pursuing something as fleeting as popularity.
Hayden – I hear there’s a vacancy.
Jamie – Good advice.
Evelyn – Thank you and well said.
Bamboo Forest – Finding your voice is the same thing whether you’re writing a blog or fiction. It’s not about finding YOU but rather, YOUR voice, your style, your way of saying things. Of course, you may have different voices for different work. Like I mentioned in another comment, I have found my blogging/column writing voice. However, I am still working on my fiction voice.