The Writer’s Devotional© is a series of posts to encourage, inspire, and motivate writers of all skill levels and across genres. Posts include quotes, prompts, literary history and trivia, photos, and anything that will help keep writers excited about their writing and eager to work on it.
Away with Words 
Some word beauty from Michael Ondaatje. It’s from ‘Running in the Family’…
“Asia. The name was a gasp from a dying mouth. An ancient word that had to be whispered, would never be used as a battle cry. The word sprawled. It had none of the clipped sound of Europe, America, Canada. The vowels took over, slept on the map with the S. I was running to Asia and everyting would change.”
Awesome quote from Michael Ondaatje ! I read this and feel intimidated…I think it is like in visual art, you hae to find your own style or not so much find but recognise what your own style/voice already is. I know my style in visual arts and am comfortable in it. Any hints as to how to recognize your own voice in writing ?
I know the feeling of being intimidated by incredible writing. After reading “A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley, I put down my pen for years. I figured if I couldn’t write like that, I didn’t want to write. It took about a decade to get over that. The fact is that I can’t write like Jane Smiley or like anyone else, but I can write … in my own voice, in my own style. My advice is to take beautiful writing, like Michael Ondaatje’s as inspiration rather than intimidation. The only way to find your own voice in writing, as in visual arts, is to work at it, and then work at it again, and then work at it some more. You will find it.
I have always wanted to write. I wasn’t even in preschool, couldn’t even write any words yet, when I first knew this. But the practical demands of daily life and misguided idealism derailed me, slowly but surely, over the years. Now, I desperately want, need, desire to be a writer, but don’t know how to begin. I can’t find a writing gig good enough (read: something that isn’t designed for ‘churn’ – churning out posts/articles by the dozen) to quit my current job – which I borderline hate. At the same time, I feel like I am too old and/or not talented enough; I fear rejection and embarrassment. Do you have any practical wisdom for me? Thanks. ^_^
Hi Karen, The thought that comes to mind is that if you want to write, all you have to do is write. When the desire is strong enough, you will write. It’s not about getting paid or even getting read. That would be a bonus, of course, but the beauty of writing is that you can just sit down and do it. It requires nothing more. What happens beyond that depends on commitment and a certain amount of luck, but the practical wisdom I’ll share with you comes from one of my favorite quotes by Bernard Malamud … “You write by sitting down and writing.” Do it and keep me posted on your progress!
I understand what you are saying. Just start. Start to write everyday. You have your own voice. With anything, practice makes if not perfect. And simply write, write, write eithout judging yourself. Be kind to yourself. Rosemary