On writing (with my own voice)
Today I had a powerful inspiration: the Muse is talking to me with a flood of words; the same ones you’re reading right now. I chose this title because I’m reading On Writing, by Stephen King, for the third time. I love that book, one of the many I like.
My inspiration was gratitude. Which is a beautiful word, don’t you agree?
Developing my own voice, for me as for every Artist, means to connect deeply with my internal monologue. I weren’t always aware of this, and I am now thanks to a friend. I’m a teacher. She’s a psycho-analyst.
I told her about my struggles in teaching. She told me about Lacan. The conversations we had made me realize the power of “my own voice”. I don’t need to share them because the first rule, in creative writing, is learning the “show, don’t tell” technique. If you have read the book, do you remember the blue eight on the rabbit’s back? That’s what I’m talking about.
As a teacher, I feel like everyone is a teacher to me too. I can choose what to learn and what to ignore. Jacques Lacan, as you can read on Wiki, has been called the most controversial psycho-analyst since Freud. To me, learning about his theories was an epiphany.
Maybe the Writers are just the ones in touch with their interior monologue because it’s spontaneous, to them.
I’m thankful to my friend because she taught me that I don’t have to fear my voice: I must listen to it. And since I’m a writer, I must use it to write… not just to teach; or to talk to my family and the people I love. I was stressed and weak when I talked to her, sometimes. She was never my therapist, but as a friend she helped me like only an amazing therapist could do. When she talked, I liked to listen. When I listen, I like to learn.
I think that’s the whole point about the advice “write with your own voice”.
I’m grateful to my friend because she taught me to have courage. Finding your own voice will be a scary journey. But…
If you go through hell, keep going. (W. Churchill)
I am brave right now: monsters are my friends, because I’m a writer. They walk with me, and I like their company.
All the self-doubt is gone, again. Right now.
If you’re a writer too, don’t be scared: write. Anyway, Virginia Woolf manages the stream of consciousness way better than me, I know. I’ll learn.
Learning is an amazing journey.
P. S. I’m working a lot on the second draft of my novel, these days. Editing is a key point, if you’re a writer or you want to teach yourself to be good enough to become a published writer. I promise myself to look for typos and linguistic interference on my writing here, on Medium. My mother tongue is not English, and I’m again still learning.
