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

Leslie Marmon Silko’s book Ceremony not only displays the depth of creativity in Indigenous literature, it invites us all into a journey of reconciling ourselves, our past, and our future with the people around us. Listen to hear how this book impacted one reader's life, and then order a copy for yourself!

If you’ve ever wondered if full-time, successful writers struggle with self-doubt or procrastination—or if they've ever wished they could take back what they printed—Kirsten Powers has your answer. Kirsten is a bestselling author, a columnist, and political analyst. She writes for USA today and is an on-air political analyst for CNN. In this episode, she talks about finding her voice, writing, and the self-discovery happening in her own life right now. Kirsten Powers' podcast: How to Do You How to Do You episode "Processing Grief During the Coronavirus with Grief Expert David Kessler"Books mentioned: Fiancé Robert Draper’s next book: To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield  The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself  by Michael A. Singer  The Road Back to You by Ian Cron 

Kim Gravel is surrounded by hustle. She’s a TV personality, QVC host, hugely successful entrepreneur, business badass who built a multimillion dollar industry from scratch, beauty queen and pageant winner including a former Miss Georgia (one of the youngest Miss Georgia’s on record). But she’s also learned that finding your purpose is not in the hustle. Listen for insight on how to achieve your dreams, and, after all of her success and accomplishments, the message on this woman’s heart. 

In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson eloquently displays how unjust our criminal justice system is. Read his book to face the real stories of the people on Death Row, what got them there, and what one man did to try for justice. Book Review: Just Mercy by Bryan StevensonThe Equal Justice Initiative: eji.org

This prompt is all about unpacking what we believe and why. Mary Oliver says it best in her poem "Angels."Join thousands of others, creating positive change in their lives through writing: get free writing prompts in your inbox, every Monday: findyourvoice.com/prompts

Listen for two questions you need to ask to find your voice, Don's tips and tricks on writing, and how words can help you navigate times of crisis. Donald Miller is the author of several best-selling books, including Building a Storybrand and his newest book Marketing Made Simple. He's also founder of Storybrand, a company dedicated to helping businesses clarify their message.Now is the best time to write a book. Finish the book you've always wanted to write: findyourvoice.com/publish.

This prompt helps us focus on the fact that we are co-creators of the positive (and there's a bonus writing tip!).Join thousands of others, creating positive change in their lives through writing: get free writing prompts in your inbox, every Monday: findyourvoice.com/prompts

A speaking career helps anyone who wants to be an author, refine their ideas, understand their audience, or grow a platform. Grant Baldwin, author of The Successful Speaker and founder of The Speaker Lab, shows us where to start when it comes to public speaking, demystifies the illusive speaking circuit, and leads us through what speaking has to teach us about writing (and, as a bonus, gives speakers advice for this current pandemic).  His book! The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platformgrantbaldwin.comthespeakerlab.com/podcastspeakerlab.com/book 

When it comes to self-improvement, it's easy to focus on what we want to change about ourselves. But what if we focused on our strengths? Research shows that consistent writing can improve your mood, reduce your anxiety and even improve your immune system by over 50%! Sign up for weekly prompts, delivered straight to your inbox, at FindYourVoice.com/prompts.

In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown says, “If you own the story, you get to write the ending.” What does it mean to “own” the story—and what is the cost of ignoring parts of ourselves? Book Review Book: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené BrownMentioned: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown