Find Your Voice: How to Write When You're Not a Writer

It’s been more than two years since I last posted an episode to this show. Here’s a little update about where I’ve been and what I’m doing now.

Have you ever voiced an idea or opinion, and then wished you could take it back?

As people who like sharing our stories with the world, we've likely all said or written something that we wish we hadn't. Our opinion changed, or we realized how we negatively influenced others. When this happens, it's tempting to wonder if sharing our stories is worth it in the long run. 

If you're familiar with Josh Harris, you might know him as the author of 1997 book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, or its sequel, Boy Meets Girl. He has a lot of regret over these books and other writing. After moving on from his position as pastor and publicly deconstructing long-held religious beliefs, he now finds himself in a new role: coaching all kinds of people as they, too, learn to live authentically through change. 

Today's podcast episode covers the following questions: 

• What to do when we wish we could take it back?
• How do we keep the fear of saying something we'll regret from paralyzing us?
• How do we move forward, knowing that we can't always control the impact of our words? 

joshharris.com

Have you ever asked, "When is my big break?"

Thad has been a musician for years, and he was about to move on in his life when he got a call from Jimmy Fallon. This episode Thad shares how he, an artist who was about to stop making music, got onto Jimmy Fallon, the Today Show, and spoke to millions with his music.

Art transforms us, and it transforms others. It is worth your effort, even when you think no one is listening.

Thad's story on Rolling Stone
Website: thisisthad.com
Music
YouTube

When is the right time to publish?

And, can a “normal” (and busy) person like me actually write a book? 

Writer, speaker, teacher Caroline Cook has always seen herself as a writer, but the time was never quite right. Caroline is a regular person, with a job and with kids and with lots of responsibilities on her plate. Now, as her kids start leaving the nest, she has found an opportunity to share a message that’s been on her heart for a long time. 

Caroline is taking her shot, and so can you. Your story is worth it. 

Carolinebcook.com 

Instagram: @caroline.b.cook 

Everyone has that one person (or people) in their lives: the people who have made life difficult. They might be loved, hated, or just inconveniently around, and you might find it hard to write about them honestly. 

How do you write about the people who have hurt you?

In this episode, author and writing coach Allison Fallon covers:

• The narrative role of "villains" in your life
• Legal ramifications of writing about real-life people
• What gets in the way as we're writing about true stories
• Three important tips when writing about your villain

If you're writing a book for the first time, chances are you're hoping to traditionally publish. 

What most first-time authors don't know is that there are several paths to publishing success out there, and self publishing is actually quite common (and can be quite profitable). 

In this episode, author and writing coach Allison Fallon 
talks with Julie Broad, an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, an International Book Award Winner, and founder of Book Launchers. 

They'll cover:

• Surprising advantages to self publishing
• The biggest challenge for self-published authors and the common struggles of traditionally published authors
• The difference between self publishing, hybrid publishing and vanity presses
• How you can know what publishing path is right for you

book: Self-Publish & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Writing a Non-Fiction Book that Sells
 
booklaunchers.com
instagram.com/booklaunchers
youtube.com/c/booklaunchers
twitter.com/booklaunchers
facebook.com/booklaunchers

One of the top questions we get here at Find Your Voice is: "How do I find a literary agent?"

On this episode, we talk with literary agent Alexander Fields about everything publishing related! Listen to learn:

• What a literary agent is and what they do
• What to do before reaching out to an agent
• How to reach out to an agent

Website: thebinderyagency.com
Podcast: On Publishing

Links from the episode:

• Writer's Digest article: The Editor Behind the Curtain
• publishersweekly.com
• writersdigest.com
• publishersmarketplace.com

What do you think of when you hear the word "poetry"?
Maybe "difficult" or "boring"?

But what about "lifeline"? 

Meredith Heller is a California-based poet, singer-songwriter, and author of Write a Poem, Save Your Life. But, more importantly, she was once a teen facing devastating life experiences, who found in writing a way through her pain. 

In this episode, author and writing coach Allison Fallon and Meredith Heller cover:

• How poetry helps us makes sense of experience
• Where to start with poetry
• How poetry impacts us
• How to use poetry to heal ourselves 

If you're curious about writing poetry but feel intimidated, this episode is for you.

Book: Write a Poem, Save Your Life*
meredithheller.com
meredithhellerpoetry@gmail.com


*FYV uses affiliate links. 

Not sure if you should self-publish or go for a traditional contract?

Author and expert writing coach Allison Fallon debunks the myth that self-publishing is a B-level option. In this episode, she covers the major differences between the two most common publishing paths, highlights the strengths and drawbacks of each approach, and gives you the question which will help you choose a path forward.

booklaunchers.com

So many of us want to pass down family memories, so the next generation can know what it was like back then. But how do we transform our memories into one compelling story?

Without having ever written a book before, Jill Phillips set out on just this task. She shares with us why she started writing, what the process was like for her, and how she came to finish a memoir she's proud to call her own.

jmphillipsauthor.com

Book: Lamlash Street: A Portrait of 1960's Post-War London Through One Family's Story *

 *FYV uses affiliate links.

Interested in writing a memoir of your own? Sign up for our Memoir Masterclass. 
Looking to self publish? Check out booklaunchers.com

 We're all about summer beach reads—but we also know that not everyone is looking for light poolside distraction. For those of you wanting a book with more substance this summer, our FYV Director of Operations, Ashley Scoby, has five recommendations.

 Ashley's background in is journalism and sportswriting. She’s written about Olympic athletes, covered a Final Four, and traveled to France to write about the 2019 Women’s World Cup. 

But on this episode of FYV staff picks, the conversation goes beyond sports to her many other interests: the failings of the American prison system, the significance of single women in our political system, and how important it is for every woman to find their own way in the world and to speak their truth. 

Here are her recommendations for summer, 2021: 

1.  Halfway Home by Reuben Jonathan Miller
2.  Know My Name by Chanel Miller
3.  Educated  by Tara Westover
4.  What I was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
5.  All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister

 *FYV uses affiliate links

Mentioned in this episode:  innocenceproject.org

If you've ever thought, "I want to write a book, but I'm not sure if I have time for it," then may we introduce you to Kirbee Miller.

Kirbee Miller is a multi-passionate person: She's an entrepreneur, founder of KiNiMi Kitchen. She works in the corporate world, and she's intentional about working creativity into her life.

Juggling relationships, responsibilities, and passions, we often make excuses about writing. We don't have time.

This episodes challenges that belief and encourages you to keep figuring out what works in your particular multi-passionate life. 

kinimikitchen.com

Books Mentioned*

• Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
• On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard by Jennifer Pastiloff

*FYV uses affiliate links

So many people write to support their business and bolster their credibility. Sometimes, that book is a group project.

Writing a book with another person: does it lighten the workload or create "too many cooks in the kitchen"?

Shari Medini and Karissa Tunis are co-authors and co-owners of AdoreThemParenting.com. Between both mothers, they have six kids and plenty of work-from-home experience, which made the current shifts toward working from home something they could speak to parents about directly.

Then came the book journey. Shari recounts the unpredictable path they took to publishing this timely book and just how perfect it was for Karissa and her to write together.

If you're in business with someone and you're thinking of writing a book together, take notes! This is how it's done.

Book: Parenting While Working from Home: A Monthly Guide to Help Parents Balance Their Careers, Connect with Their Kids, and Establish Their Inner Strength

Website: adorethemparenting.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AdoreThemCommunity
Instagram: @adorethemparenting


*FYV uses affiliate links

Have you ever started a creative project and somewhere along the way become ... stuck?

Creative block is part of the process. And we're curious how everyone deals with it. This episode, author and writing coach Allison Fallon asks, "What do you do when you get stuck in your writing or in life?"

We get lots of different answers: everything from physical movement to letting distraction run its course, and Ally shares her own writer's block trick. If you're curious to hear more, check out Ally's post about it on Instagram.  (And if you responded there, you might just get a shoutout!).

 If you have a dream of writing a personal story, but worry that your story isn't interesting, this episode is for you.

Author, podcaster, and public speaker Mary Marantz covers two insecurities that keep writers from getting started, how to write about complicated people in our stories, and how to make a personal story appeal to others. Keep listening until the end to hear Mary's publishing path: she gets specific about her journey finding an agent and putting together her book proposal.

 Book: Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful*
podcast: The Mary Marantz Show

Mention: The Art of Memoir* by Mary Karr

marymarantz.com
Instagram: @marymarantz
facebook.com/groups/marymarantzshow



 

*FYV uses affiliate links.

So many of us are burnt out: but, for some of us, it's not our fault. We've been led to believe lies about what we need or what we should be — and it has us running in circles.
 
Relationship coach and YouTuber Amy Young jumps on with Allison Fallon to discuss what keeps women restricted, and how to dismantle those lies and stand in your truth.
 
 
amyyoungcoaching.com
instagram.com/amyyoungco
youtube.com/channel

What books should I read as a writer?

As writers, we owe a lot to other writers: they are the people who inspired us in the first place, and they are the ones who keep us writing. Author and writing coach Allison Fallon shares seven books she returns to when she's stuck, needs perspective, or is looking for encouragement.

If you're a writer (or want to be), your bookshelf might need these:

1. Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters. John Steinbeck writing about his writing to his agent and editor.

2. The Artist's Way. Julia Cameron teaches a regular habit of writing to unlock creativity. (Also author of A Right to Write)

3. The War of Art. Steven Pressfield addresses resistance in the creative life.

4. Save the Cat. Blake Snyder writes about story structure.

5. Stein on Writing. Sol Stein answers your questions on writing technique.

6. Bird by Bird. Anne Lamott's classic on writing and life.

7. If You Want to Write. Brenda Ueland on how everyone has an interesting perspective worth writing down.

Bonus Book: The Power of Writing It Down. Allison Fallon on writing for personal growth.

 *FYV uses affiliate links.

If you've ever dreamt of having more than one writing desk, this episode is for you.

Enuma Okoro is an award-winning author. Among many other places, her work has been featured in the NY Times and the Financial Times. On this episode, she shares her passion for the writing life and how the practice of writing is soul care. 

Listen for: 

• what it means to be a writer
• what it's like to write in multiple genres
• how "not writing" can actually help you write
  
  

enumaokoro.com

If so many of us feel lonely, what keeps us from reaching out to other people?

Laura Tremaine is host of the podcast 10 Things to Tell You and author of the book Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First.* With Allison Fallon, she discusses loneliness, moving to LA and the early days of blogging, and, most importantly, practical ways to connect with others. This episode will make you a better friend and communicator and leave you feeling a little less alone.

@laura.tremaine
@10thingstotellyou
10thingstotellyou.com
lauratremaine.com

*FYV uses affiliate links. 

You may have heard of the Enneagram: the personality typing system that we mention fairly frequently on this show. This episode, therapist and Enneagram coach Katie Gustafson gives an overview of the Enneagram and its connection to narrative.

Katie says, "I believe your story is the most powerful tool you've got," and, with Allison Fallon, she discusses how this tool helps bring an editorial pen to our lives.

katiegustafson.co

instagram.com/katieagustafson
linkedin.com/in/kagustafson
facebook.com/katiegustafsoncounseling
twitter.com/ktgustafson