Write Courageously and Strengthen Your Unique Creative Voice
Challenge yourself to create something different as you embrace and strengthen your creative voice
“Create dangerously, for people who read dangerously. … Writing, knowing in part that no matter how trivial your words may seem, someday, somewhere, someone may risk his or her life to read them.” — Edwidge Danticat
We are over halfway through Poetry Month, and I have had the pleasure of writing and weaving words with different poetic devices. As often as I write poetry (since the age of 11, almost 12), I never attempted Haiku, but last week I gave it a go.
As I shared in 11 Haikus — The Moon, Lovers, and Questions at the Midnight Hour, it was midnight, but it was alright.
I’m a poet, and I know it.
Nevertheless, as a writer, it reminded me to challenge myself and write courageously. First, I was reminded why it is so important to challenge myself as a writer, even if those works never go beyond my cloud service or hard drive.
Secondly, I remembered that I and only I, as a creative writer, have the power to strengthen my voice.
Yes, each piece you write will have its own challenges. Still, some forms of writing come to us so easily. We can do it in less than an hour and move on to the next piece without breaking a sweat.
That’s wonderful.
But when it gets too easy breezy, I encourage every writer to write something they’ve never attempted before and strengthen their creative voice.
I understand some writers may feel their creative voice isn’t unique, distinct, impactful, or valuable in any way. But the truth is, your voice is what sets you apart from every other writer in existence.
Because your creative voice is so distinctive, you want it to be strong and resilient.
With each personal writing challenge, you will come to understand that no one else has your specific life or work experiences, your perspective, your insights, or your way of expressing yourself.
Furthermore, I encourage you to embrace your quirks and idiosyncrasies because they’re what make your writing special. You don’t have to write like anyone else.
Certainly, you want your creative voice to evolve as a writer. The evolution of your creative voice is essential for several reasons.
When your creative voice evolves:
- You expand your range of expression,
- You communicate more effectively with different audiences.
- You develop a distinct writing style,
- You can better convey your ideas, communicate your insight from experience, and connect with readers on a deeper level.
More important than anything else, as your creative voice continues to evolve, the process of exploration can lead to unexpected discoveries about your talent and help you to grow as a writer and create more impactful work.
Your work will stay relevant while you remain open to new ideas.
Therefore, don’t be afraid to try new things, experiment with different styles, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Through every challenge, you’ll discover new facets of your voice, tap into a new dimension of your imagination and creativity, and grow as a writer.
And please don’t forget that your creative voice matters. Your words have the power to connect, inspire, and move others.
Keep writing, continue to hone your craft, and your creative voice will strengthen and shine through in every piece you create.
Fam, I’m curious. Whether writer, reader, or writer and reader, have you recently taken on a challenge in your career or profession?
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
In the spirit of New Writers Welcome, Fam, my Best Friend and Creative Business Partner, Roslyn J., has courageously posted her first poem on Medium. She’d love some feedback, and if you like what you read, give her a follow.
