Finding and embracing my unique writer’s voice has been a transformative journey, filled with moments of doubt and eventual triumph. Despite having professors validate my writing talent, I often allowed the opinions of those outside my target audience to make me second-guess my abilities. It took years of education, positive feedback, and personal growth to fully embrace and confidently share my voice with the world.

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The Struggle for Confidence

Like many writers, I grappled with self-doubt. Despite receiving praise from my professors and peers during my MFA in Creative Writing, I found myself overly concerned with the opinions of individuals who were not my intended readers. Their feedback, often rooted in preferences for different genres or styles, made me question my choices and authenticity.

The Turning Point: Validation Through Reviews

The turning point in my journey came with the publication of Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring and the Six Months that Changed Everything. The positive reviews from readers who resonated with my story were incredibly affirming. However, it was the glowing review from Kirkus that truly solidified my confidence. This external validation from a respected source helped me see the value in my unique voice and narrative style.

The Promise to Myself

With newfound confidence, I made a promise to myself: I would no longer allow the opinions of those who were not my target audience to dictate my writing. I realized that trying to tailor my work to fit the tastes of others would only dilute my voice and compromise the authenticity that my true readers cherished.

Loving My Voice and Cultivating My Audience

Embracing my unique writer’s voice meant learning to love and appreciate my style, themes, and storytelling approach. I focused on cultivating and nourishing relationships with readers who genuinely appreciated and connected with my work. This shift in mindset allowed me to create more authentically and passionately without the nagging fear of external judgment.

Tips for Embracing Your Unique Writer’s Voice

1. Identify Your True Audience: Focus on the readers who appreciate and seek out your style and themes. Write for them, not for those who would never pick up your book unless it mimicked their favorite authors.
2. Seek Constructive Feedback: While feedback is essential, learn to discern which opinions are constructive and align with your goals. Value input from those who understand and appreciate your genre.
3. Celebrate Your Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate positive reviews and milestones. These achievements are a testament to your talent and hard work.
4. Stay True to Yourself: Authenticity is key. Write what you love and what resonates with you, and your true audience will find and appreciate your work.
5. Continue Growing: Confidence doesn’t mean stagnation. Continue to learn, grow, and refine your craft, but always stay true to your unique voice.

Conclusion

Embracing my unique writer’s voice has been a liberating and empowering journey. It took years of education, validation from readers and critics, and a commitment to authenticity to get here. Today, I write confidently and passionately, knowing that my voice matters and resonates with those who are meant to hear it.

Have you struggled with finding and embracing your unique writer’s voice? Share your journey in the comments below! Let’s support and inspire each other in this incredible writing adventure.