#BetterWriter – Page 2

Day 13 — Vox Vocis

Hmmm, I had to scan my blog to find examples of writing that were like and unlike my voice. The more recent posts are a more accurate portrayal of my voice. The older posts are definitely me trying to sound like someone else. Knowing your audience plays a key role in being able to pen your voice.

Assignment: Choose five words to describe your voice or what you know of your voice. You can list them or write them out in a paragraph. I know, here I go with the lists again. Then take two or three excerpts of your writing and see if your writing matches up with what you know of your voice. Pick out a few ways that the writing lets your unique voice shine through and a few areas on which you could improve. What keeps you from writing in your own voice?
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My voice is a work in progress. I try to write like I speak and think, so that I maintain some sort of accuracy and consistently for myself. Unless necessary, I don’t think to be overly flowery or descriptive. I tend to ask many questions, allowing myself and readers opportunities for self-reflection.

This post, I Never Wanted to be Typical, is not really me. It kinda is, but truth be told, I was trying to stay quiet about my true self and instead, working at making myself look impressed. It was a writing contest entry for Today’s Parent magazine. They were searching for new bloggers/writers either to feature as a blogger or potential article writers. The post is true, but it’s missing a big chunk of me–my spirituality. Not that my beliefs need to be posted every single time I write something, but if I’m writing about me and trying to “sell” myself to someone, a few words–about the major thing that makes me, me and affects how I view life and how I aim to love everyone–need to be included.

On the flip side, these posts on trust and grit and temptation looking good from far are more like me. I was honest and true to myself. I shared some of the lessons learned and the points that most impressed me. The ability to speak freely and openly makes a world of difference. I didn’t have to work at hiding part of myself.

What keeps me from writing in my voice is fear. When I start worrying about people’s impressions and opinions of me, it holds me back. When I get more concerned over attracting numbers and hoping to one day be discovered and landing a nifty writing contract, it confuses my mind. Once I decided Who I was writing for and why, the words flow a bit more freely and steadily. Trusting God doesn’t guarantee that things will work out according to my fantasies. It does mean that He will supply my every need.

Day 12 — Action Steps to Find Your Voice/Passion

This one was tricky. It taught me that I don’t think about myself enough. I shouldn’t take days to list 10 of my passions. It also showed me that when it gets down to honest, nitty gritty writing, I get quite personal. I almost skipped sharing this in the Facebook group. When I stopped to questions why, I had no real answer other than chickening out. It’s okay to share, especially when it’s personal. It’s honest, and that’s what counts most.

Assignment: Make a list of ten of your passions. Pick one and write about why that topic/subject is your passion. We want to know the nitty gritty whys and hows. Maybe your love for war reenactments stems from your father taking you to battlefields and forts when you were younger or perhaps your pottery obsession is from a desire to understand the verse, “You are the potter and I am the clay…” Whatever your passion, for whatever reason you pursue it, we want to hear about it.
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Ten passions for me are (in random order):

Family
Healthy relationships
Baking
Written Communication
Everyday living à la Christian twist
Kindness
Gospel Music
Reading
Writing
Encouragement/helping

Everyday living à la Christian twist

Many times a day, I’m confronted with the selfishness of humanity. It’s everywhere. Like e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! Hospitals, schools, playgrounds. Grocery stores, workplaces, homes. The church. It seems that decisions are being made with the “what can I gain from this?” mentality. Really, it should be more of the “how can I love you–don’t worry about reciprocating” mindset. The news and the social media feeds are full of stories. The comments on these news items are full of opinions, most of which tend to be scathing judgments cast by those who seem to be living only for themselves and their shadow. There is no love or forgiveness in their words, most times. If the people in these stories included God in their lives, they probably wouldn’t even make the news in the first place. God is here. He’s always been here and will always be around. Rather than fight against that, and doing what my flawed self wrongly believes is “good”, I’ve found that my life goes much, much better when I let go and let God reign. I’m realizing more and more that I need to live for Christ each day. The words I speak, the actions I do, the thoughts I think (even in the utmost private areas of my soul) need to all be treated with care and guidance.

Make no mistake—my life is nothing close to perfect! However I don’t let my imperfections be an excuse to cushion my falls. By immersing myself in the Word, I’m able to read history in hopes of not repeating those same things again. Nothing is new. The choices aren’t new, the sins aren’t new. By putting God first, I take the focus of myself and work on doing what God wants me to do. I work at loving other people. I’m able to see others just as they are—people loved by their Creator. God’s generous gifts of grace and mercy cover a multitude of yuckiness. But I can’t coast on that, trusting them to be my ticket throughout this life. The more I study, the more God shows me how to live and how to love. So far, His ways are working even better than any ideas I could think up. I just pray that my life encourages others to live for Him as well.

Day 11 — Your Voice vs. Other Voice

This challenge was tricky for me. The motivating, ice-breaking article to read was this one. It’s about eyewitness accounts of the Gettysburg Address. I’d never even read the speech until tonight. So, taking full advantage of the openness of the assignment, I wrote up something.

Assignment: Read these eyewitness accounts of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and then craft a post about them. The sky’s the limit. Be creative, be you.
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It seems unexpected that words spoken at a cemetery would one day be regarded as a defining moment in American history. Sarah A. Meyers, an eyewitness at Gettysburg that day, noted the briefness of President Lincoln’s speech. This caught my attention. I’m used to political addresses being long. It’s rare to hear comments that an American president’s speech was short. For the first time, I had a chance to read the speech. It was very brief, and even more impactful. President Lincoln’s words are in dedication of a national cemetery for fallen soldiers. In a nutshell, he encouraged all living Americans to keep fighting for and striving toward freedom.

After reading this speech, I wondered why it was so short. This is an excellent example of saying what needs to be said. President Lincoln didn’t hide behind speech writers or search a thesaurus for creative eloquence. Nothing was sugar-coated with flowery phrases and poetic sounding words. This applies to me. With all this talk of “my voice” and needing to stay true and authentic to myself and the craft of writing, the Gettysburg Address is an encouragement. When President Obama delivers a speech, we have the ability to tune in live and hear his words in its original format. We’re also subjected to all types of analysts who attempt to dissect every sentence, word and oral pause, often looking for flaws. When President Lincoln addressed Gettysburg, he encouraged the people in his hearing. I don’t belief that history, or providing a proper amount of ear-candy to pacify any analysts, was his focus.

I need to stop picturing writing analysts in my mind when I do write. I tend to over process ideas and word imagery at times when I make my audience the focus. My words, my writing isn’t always melodic and airy. And that’s okay. I often find myself cutting down the number of words written to the number of words that are actually needed. I don’t want to lose my readers before they’ve heard the message. My words may never be part of my country’s history, but they are a part of my present. Every word counts.

Day 10 — The Hunt for Voice

Assignment: Read this article (link in post below) about the origin of St. Patrick’s Day. Write a 200-300 (word count is fluid…this is just something to aim for) word post about this article. You can write an overview or you can focus in on one aspect. Perhaps you have a family memory or tradition that ties into the article.

Oh, so this is the history behind March 17? Until now, no one had ever taken the time to explain the history behind St. Patrick’s Day. I must admit that I never bothered to research it myself. The day has always been unattractive to me. So, I dismissed the idea, believing that it doesn’t apply to me whatsoever. I don’t personally know anyone who truly honours Patrick on his day either. A few friends wear green, in keeping with some tradition. They prefer to avoid those lurking gremlins who await to pinch those who don’t have on the colour of the shamrock. After reading this article, I’m seeing that this holiday has potential for great things in our community, in our world, if done right.

Patrick, apparently, was an evangelist. Ireland was his mission field, where he used the gospel message to reach people for God’s kingdom. How cool is that?! And this was all before satellite, television, internet, social media were even a shred of thought. Patrick worked hard to share Christ and His gift of salvation with people who didn’t know him. He used neat illustrations, like the shamrock to teach of the Trinity. This leaf contains one stem, yet from it grows three distinct petals. This was over 1500 years ago. To me, it reinforces how strong and how steadfast God is. The message has not and will never change. The method of delivery and the beliefs of the deliverers vary, but God is still the same.

He is.

Sounds to me like St. Patrick’s Day has been robbed of a good thing. People use this day to binge drink, getting sloshed over a name. Why not use this day for community outreach? This is the chance to copy Patrick and evangelize. Steer clear of liquor–it only impairs your judgment. Instead, keep a clear mind and open heart and share the Good News with someone else. If talking about God aloud is too scary, then do an act of kindness for someone else. That’s still evangelism.

Hmm, I will be rethinking this day from now on. St. Patrick’s Do Something Day.

Day 9 — Unpublished Works

Assignment: This weekend I want you to journal. It would be awesome if you wrote every day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) even if it is just a little something; a few words or thoughts. I do, however understand the value of taking a break, especially as you have been working so diligently on these challenges. You can check in with the Facebook page over the weekend if you would like. These are supposed to be unpublished, so don’t worry about blogging them or posting them. Just encourage one another to keep up with the challenges.

So, a break…well, kind of. Now to find time to dig out a journal. I didn’t get to it last weekend, but aim to do it this coming weekend.

It’s A Poem

I’ll fully admit that I’m taking the easier way out with my Write It, Girl post today. The freedom to write anything and link up has encouraged me to share this. I’ve also been participating in Allume’s 31 Days to #BetterWriter series. I just completed my day 8 assignment. (Yes, they’re on day 11. Shhhh!)

The assignment was poetry, a genre I haven’t done in a good 15 years or so, since high school. Write a poem about any topic of your choice, unbogged from all grammatical worries.
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Trapped
In my mind, locked away
Buried in heart, hidden in soul
Words, thoughts, ideas

Tangents from here
Lessons from there
Sheer brilliance! at least to me
What’s the point of thinking if thoughts stay bottled up inside?
Imaginary label: “do not disturb”
“Contents under pressure”
Yet one nudge, one poke
The vessel may shatter
Why wait for special occasion?
Take advantage of full flavour, aroma, effect
Best used before expiration date
In its prime

Ideas, thoughts, words
Clawed from heart, found in soul
Given life with pen to paper, fingers to keys
Free

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I actually liked this poem. I had prayed for inspiration before I began, since I was clueless about where to begin. This is what flowed only moments later. God’s cool like that. My writing matters to Him, even with self-imposed “deadlines”.

Day 8 — Poetry

Help–I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! That’s how I feel with my lag in this challenge. Ha ha. I won’t skip ahead though. Today’s assignment was poetry; a form I haven’t done in about 15ish years or so. It was fun to get back into that groove.

Assignment: Write an excerpt in verse and not prose. You can write on any topic you want, just please don’t use curse words in your poetry if you are posting in the Facebook group. Don’t shrug off this assignment with the excuse, “I’m not a poet.” I know, you’re a writer, but writers write poetry too. Give it a try and don’t over think this. There is no “wrong” poem.
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Trapped
In my mind, locked away
Buried in heart, hidden in soul
Words, thoughts, ideas

Tangents from here
Lessons from there
Sheer brilliance! at least to me
What’s the point of thinking if thoughts stay bottled up inside?
Imaginary label: “do not disturb”
“Contents under pressure”
Yet one nudge, one poke
The vessel may shatter
Why wait for special occasion?
Take advantage of full flavour, aroma, effect
Best used before expiration date
In its prime

Ideas, thoughts, words
Clawed from heart, found in soul
Given life with pen to paper, fingers to keys
Free

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I like this. I may have to do a Write It, Girl crossover today.

Day 7 — Bird’s Eye View

Assignment: Write about a point in your life when you have experienced the “bird’s eye view”. It can be a time you were flying, or a time when you looked back on your life and have seen how the pieces fit together.

The higher you go, the farther away things seem. The smaller they become, even though nothing actually shrinks. Atop a ladder, ants practically disappear, yet their strength remains the same. From the top of a skyscraper, some get nauseous and adults appear to be scurrying around like small toddlers. Yet they haven’t changed one bit. From an airplane, you can’t even identify people. Fields are recognizable, and maybe the bigger buildings and landmarks. You get a bigger view of your local neighbourhood, and where your house sits in the grand scheme of things. Suddenly you realize that your living space, though cozy and tight, isn’t so microscopic after all. Life is so much bigger outside of yourself.

Size aside, I’m reminded that our infinite God spoke this world into existence. He is bigger than all of it, certainly much bigger than me. My problems, at times insurmountable, are put into their rightfully small place in the world. It doesn’t mean that I don’t matter–it means that I don’t control the world. There are billions of other people with their own colossal problems. But colossal problems lead the way to blessings of epic proportions. My capabilities are limited to a minute view of the world; only what’s fits within my periphery. I’m most glad to serve a God who has the best view of the larger picture. I’m also content that my smallness allows me to nestle in the palm of His mighty hand.

Day 6 — Perspective

Assignment: Write about something that is unique to your story. It could be a physical feature or a life experience. You could write about something that happened when you were growing up that impacted your life forever. You could write about your daily struggle to get your toddler to potty train and how you are at your wit’s end…or maybe that’s just me. Also, don’t just re-work some post from the past. Write a new one…if there’s any place to be vulnerable, it’s here.

My pickiness with food is based on a few senses: aroma, texture, flavour and visual appeal. I have only one mouth, one tongue, one stomach. Yet I have two eyes, two hands and two nose holes. I must guard them ever so carefully. One experience that helped to mold my culinary sense happened the very first time I tasted cheesecake. It was also the very last time I tasted cheesecake. I was about 7 years old, attending a summertime birthday party for a young child. The customary cake was standard grocery store bakery fare; a white sheet, layered with sweet icing and sugary, food-coloured flowers. One piece of cake is never enough at that age. I went back and asked the grownups for more, please. The cake was all gone, but they had cheesecake left. Inwardly, I questioned the logic in combining cheese and cake together. However, I let my hunger-masked greed cloud my good judgment. I went downstairs and took a bite–and spit it right out! All I could taste and smell was cheese. Ewww! I was not a cheese fan to begin with. I expected more sugary flavours, not this insult to my senses. I quickly ran to return the offender to the adults. They had fun laughing at my expense. But I knew that I would never fall for this ploy again.

Over the years, I’ve refused every bit of cheesecake possible. I have tasted and baked a cheese-less “cheesecake”—that’s the only thing I’d eat; an imitation. It had a wee hint of a cheesy taste, but I was willing to try it because I knew it did not contain even one crumb of cheese. People still think I’m crazy for refusing this dessert that some refer to as a delight. They’re entitled to their perspective, just as I’m entitled to mine.

31 Days to #BetterWriter

So far, the challenge is going well. It’s been a struggle some days, to get into the right frame of mind for each assignment. Once it *clicks* and I find my voice for that moment, then the words just seem to pour out of me. I’ve also given myself a personal challenge alongside the Allume challenge.

I’ve noticed that many people tend to write from a deep place. Oftentimes, it’s a dark, scary, painful place. Their fuel is a bad experience, bad memories, low self-esteem, bad anything. These are the dark places that most of us work to keep hidden and deeply buried. We would never invite anyone there. We barely want God in there. When you do invite people into that little dark corner, it’s those carefully chosen, hand-picked few who have crossed the relationship threshold into an exclusive intimacy.

It’s been fantastic to read all these various posts with the vast array of voices behind them. Hurt is a great motivator at times. I tend to draw on the darker areas of my life when I write. The more important the piece, the lower down I go, sometimes needing to unearth a few memories to help deliver the message I feel in my heart.

Yet, this month, I didn’t want to do the same thing with these challenges. Instead, I’m aiming to write from more pleasant, warmer deep places. Their may be the odd assignment where this just won’t work. In that case, I’ll still aim to put a positive spin in the piece itself. Should be an interesting month ahead.

~~You can read my assignments over on my other blog: As The Words Flow~~
**UPDATE** I’ve now imported all my assignments into this blog. (Too tasking to maintain two blogs publicly right now)