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Staying True To Your Writing Voice

September 28, 2012 by 12 Comments

I’m still fairly new to this writing routine. I look back over the last year and am amazed at how much I have learned and experienced.

I’ve been blogging consistently, and I feel like I’ve made significant progress. However, lately I have felt like I’ve been off track. I went through a time where I wrote a bunch of guest posts for other blogs. And it was great. I really enjoyed it. But my writing subsided. I was taking my writing and tailoring it to the other persons’ audience.

Something happened after I did that. My writing stalled. I had a hard time getting back to the writing that I originally felt called to do. I felt like I was following a path that others said I had to take in order to be successful. And that concerns me.

Not long after I started writing, I very clearly heard God’s voice. He wants me to write. He wants me to write about my story. What He’s helped me learn. How he’s helping me become the person He wants me to be.

My struggles.

My imperfections.

My growth.

He wants me to encourage others, and help them know they’re not alone. To help them realize that their story matters. To help them embrace their story. He also wants me to tell the inspiring stories of people who won’t or can’t tell their own.

And while I have shared some of that on other blogs, I feel like it’s time to get centered again on what God wants me to write. It’s time to listen again. To hear how He wants me to use my voice.

Will I continue to guest post? Definitely. I believe it is a great way to learn and to be exposed to people with different ideas. I have learned so much!

But for right now, I need to forge my own trail. I need to continue to listen to what God wants me to do. I need to learn to stay on course and not get distracted. I need to continually learn, but I also need to be open to where God wants me to go and not where others tell me I should go.

Question: Have you ever experienced the pull to follow what others say you should do instead of staying true to your path (your writing voice)? What suggestions can you offer to help?

* Image credit: HowardLake (Creative Commons)

Filed Under: Advice, Blogging, Creativity, Critique Groups, Habits, Miscellaneous, Platform, Productivity, Writing Tips
About Tammy Helfrich
  • http://www.ordinaryservant.com/ Pilar Arsenec

    Yes. I have been struggling with this same element. Also, setting boundaries and not feeling guilty has also been another challenge recentlt as well. Great post Tammy.

    • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

      Thanks, Pilar! I know we talked about this. Let’s keep encouraging each other!

  • Sara S.

    Oh absolutely! I struggle with hearing the other voices in my writing instead of honoring my own, even as its broken, hurt, and questioning.

    • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

      Keep pushing through it. You can do it!

  • http://www.CharlesSpecht.com/ Charles Specht

    Isn’t it weird how we writers experience so many of the same things?

    I just published two guest posts this week and that is more than I’ve ever done before. It has definitely hindered me from focusing on writing on my own blogs this week. But like you say above, I’ll continue to do it as well. It isn’t long-term distraction, but merely a right-hand turn which keeps me on the best path for building my platform and getting the word out.

    PS: I’m guest posting over at Teri Johnson’s blog today: http://keepingitpersonal.com/2012/09/3-tips-for-turning-hard-work-into-the-thrill-of-success/

  • http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

    I’ve struggled with trying to “impress” other people in so many areas of life, and I suppose writing is one of them. Lately I’ve decided the best way I can write is honestly, nothing more, nothing less.

    • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

      I’m with you Jamie. Just keep writing!

  • http://www.nadinewouldsay.com/ Nadine S.

    I think I’m still attempting to learn my voice. Some days I think I’ve got it yet others it seems like I just can’t find it.

    • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

      I have been there too. Keep writing. That’s what I’m trying to do.

  • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

    Tammy, I have! There’s one particular area of writing that I had been neglecting. I realized that I was trying to fulfill all ‘blogging righteousness’. It’s one thing to follow guru advice, quite another to stay true to what God has called you to write about. I am following my passion and may break some of blogging rules :) But I am following God, not rules and others :) . Great post

    • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

      I’m trying to do the same, Ngina.

  • http://www.beyondthesinnersprayer.wordpress.com/ Barb

    Wow, Tammy. I guess I’ve done that and I don’t even have guest posting as an excuse! (I still have’t worked up the effort to try doing a guest post.) God seems to be teaching me to ask Him what He wants me to write. But my natural impulse is to write what I think everyone wants me to write.