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 MusicYouTube

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 lifeLegal ramifications of writing about real-life peopleWhat gets in the way as we're writing about true storiesThree 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 publishingThe biggest challenge for self-published authors and the common struggles of traditionally published authorsThe difference between self publishing, hybrid publishing and vanity pressesHow you can know what publishing path is right for youbook: Self-Publish & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Writing a Non-Fiction Book that Sells booklaunchers.com instagram.com/booklaunchersyoutube.com/c/booklauncherstwitter.com/booklaunchersfacebook.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 doWhat to do before reaching out to an agentHow to reach out to an agentWebsite: thebinderyagency.comPodcast: On PublishingLinks from the episode:Writer's Digest article: The Editor Behind the Curtainpublishersweekly.comwritersdigest.compublishersmarketplace.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 experienceWhere to start with poetryHow poetry impacts usHow 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 [email protected]*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.comBook: 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