When I thought about the title of this article, it brought me back to people in general. I mean, it’s the same for those who are shier than others. I had to bring myself back to the young days when I was quite shy, and from there, I began writing. It was then that I trusted my writing, because I knew that no one but me was going to be reading it.
Then I asked myself, “So, why so shy?” Part of the answer, I didn’t trust my own voice, and here we are today, a 360-degree … I am a person unrecognisable in character from primary school and high school, yet my face is still memorable.
Training is essential – the days and years of practice precede the path that will be forged…
No matter the writing stage, trust the process
You will be writing no matter what. Don’t overthink your writing. Besides that, if you’re truly making the effort, you’re bound to do some reading and research along the way. While that is a guide, trusting your writing is part of that process.
Without even knowing we’re about to make a mistake makes it the best opportunity to refine one’s voice, tone, style, and so much more. This will lead to your particular point of view that distinguishes you from everyone else out there. Only if you learn from the lessons that come your way.
Why trust your writing voice like no one is reading?
1. 8 billion people, 8 billion ways to express yourself – there is only one of “you”.
No one’s life is the same, and there is a story in every person. It’s just every person has their own way of expressing it. Sure, one life can have over 8 billion experiences, but it will always be different from 8 billion people. There are people in the world who have had their lives spin out of control from just one defining experience that a very small percentage can relate to and still no one can relate entirely.
Trusting your writing voice is important to touch other people’s lives and to help others understand, resonate, or come close to relating to what it is that only you can depict, and share with the intention that was set. By transferring a piece of you and the difference you believe it will make in the life of others enriches humanity.
Not everyone in this world will want to express themselves through writing and some will just be forced to pass language classes to reach the next grade, as the years go by, some might use painting, others writing, others singing, others something else creative, or just sharing so that they can to help their families, either way, there is a story that is being shared be it just a one line at a time or a short pieces here and there.
2. The voice of authenticity and truth
Trusting your writing voice like no one is reading will keep bringing your voice back to you, no likes, no validation, no impressing, no ego, plain and simple authenticity and truth. Whether you’re still learning the dynamics of description, scripting, play, or using fluff, for whatever purpose when push comes to shove, the core of your writing, the intention and message that you want the audience to leave within the story comes from what the readers feel. Stripping away the intention of description, scripting, play, fluff, etc., authentic stories come from the heart. These stories automatically carry the intention without the effort via the natural energy, description, and play, in its raw form, sometimes even the fluff and that’s because of memories, feelings and the heart – the memory of pain, excitement, joy, fun, games, loss, trauma, adventure, etc. – the memory of life. No one can tell it like the person who has been through it or witnessed it through all 5 sensory elements.
Anything that comes from the heart in that moment without self-sabotaging makes the experience authentic such as an act of kindness, empathy, compassion, an unexpected twist of faith in someone’s life by meeting you, and in this case, meeting your writing.
3. Please yourself through your point of view
It takes courage to finally get down and say it, then it takes a whole lot of fear of putting it out there. I hope this is going to help you pluck out more courage from now on. My writing voice grew so much stronger when over and over again I started to see moments in my life. It just didn’t happen overnight, it took a lot of time, but with that, character also develops. Over time, this belief became true, “No matter which way you split the cake, someone is always going to complain, start drama or silently resent you,” but that’s not your problem.
“So, just go ahead, anyway”. You’re not writing to please everyone, whoever is meant to find your piece/peace and it helps them, then that’s meant to be.
The more actions taken from the heart … and the more often,
the more it will shake things up – T. Dench Patel, 00:25, 29 May 2024
These days I’m learning this mantra, “No matter which way you split the cake, there are silent people who appreciate the piece”. Where there are critiques there are also lovers, but that shouldn’t stop you from writing what’s coming up for you.
4. Writing from the heart removes fear and illusions
Working at a craft from one’s heart automatically aligns the rest of the body. Art can be a form of meditation, relaxation or healing, and so can writing. Surfers keep wanting to go back on their boards to catch the next wave, the man who rollerblades just has this constant smile on his face, and the girl who spends hours dancing and practicing doesn’t look at her job the same way a shopkeeper might. There is a sense of focus and alignment that comes with doing something you love. It doesn’t feel like work at all, and it comes so naturally that it is easy and effortless.
Over and over again, you can get a sense of achievement and know that mastery and the work behind it is a responsibility. The immense weight that some might think is on the shoulders is the large pieces that get lifted off through natural talent. Others would call this their soul calling, hence why there is not ever any heavy lifting when it comes to the natural order and alignment, this is what writing from the heart does.
The more writers trust their voice like no one is reading they’re going through a process of believing that they are enough.
You don’t need to be a Stephen King, a J. K Rowling and those who keep returning to your readership must mean they are getting value by this writer being who they are as their style grows along with them, their audience witness their next level of genius.
So, there you have it, the first time writing my 2 cents about trusting your writing voice in my 3rd decade-long writing movement…
In case you were wondering what my initial writing looks like, you can see a glimpse of poetry and prose in my first book, The South African: True Colours. Those were my first few pieces of work in my initial years during the 1990s, which then moved on to more poetry and prose in the year 2000 upwards, in this book, The South African: Roamer.
Looking forward to our next discussion, in the meantime take a look at my entertaining and educational video on my YouTube Channel about trusting your writing voice like no one is reading.
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Yours sincerely,
T. Dench Patel
