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 l...

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
...

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. You...

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:

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:

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:

Website: thebinderyagency.com
Podcast: On Publishing

Links from the episode:

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:

If...

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 *

 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 signi...

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.c...

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...

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, y...

 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: Th...

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.
<...

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: 

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
<...

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 

You may have heard the term “ghostwriter.” And you might have some questions. (So did the author write the book or not?)

Not every author comes up with every sentence of their book. Many times, there’s a behind-the-scenes person (or team) involved. And it’s not as scandalous as it sounds. In this episode, writer (and ghostwriter) Allison Fallon interviews another ghostwriter and author, Ashley Abercrombie. 

Both Allison and Ashley have both published under their own name and have written for other people. They talk about the challenges of each, when to know if you’re re...

We all have our doubts.  Maybe you want to write your story, but you're not sure: not sure it's worth the effort, not sure you want to publish. What if no one even wants to read it? 

Or maybe you definitely don't want to publish, but you have a story from your past that needs working out—a story you have questions about—and something is telling you to write it down.  But you think to yourself, "That's crazy, I'm not a writer."

In this episode, author and writing coach Allison Fallon covers the compelling reasons...

Artist, poet, musician and author Morgan Harper Nichols' work has already touched so many people's lives—including ours!

This episode, she shares about how she still gets nervous sharing new work with an audience (and how that's a good thing), the playlist she uses when she writes, and what is special to her about her latest book. She reflects on how words connect—or don't—with people, how art might only connect with one person—and that person might be you (and how worth it that is).

She defines "finding your voice" as that moment when you...

So often, it's a childhood love of books and reading which inspires our own writing. But what makes a kid excited about reading and writing?  How can we pass that on?

The mentors in our early lives make a huge difference here. Listen in on Allison Fallon's conversation with an early mentor of her own, her mom, Sandie Spotts. Sandie is a lifelong educator who has years of experience teaching kids to read (and to like reading). In this episode, she shares tips on cultivating a love of reading in the next generation.

So many of us are so focused on getting our stories out there that we forget that becoming "known" has consequences. When you decide to publish (or share your story in any public way), what was once personal and private becomes open for discussion. People will have opinions on your story—and you might not like all of those opinions. 

When Sara Lewis shared her story on a podcast, she didn't think of herself as "brave." But when her story went viral, she quickly learned what it meant to be in the spotlight. 

Follow Sara Lewi...

Is there someone in your life trying to silence you? How do you fight for your voice when you are challenged, and what do you do when that resistance comes from someone close to you?

As an author, speaker, and influencer, Elyse Murphy uses words for a living. But she knows what it's like to have someone suppress her voice: She and Ally both left abusive marriages, and, on this episode, they talk about how you can use a tool like writing—specifically writing your story—to hold onto what you know to be true about yourself.
...

Maybe you doubt if you really have what it takes to write a book.

On this episode, Allison Fallon names five common myths about how books get written—misconceptions that SO many people have about this process.  After debunking these myths, she reveals the truth.

Listen to hear about the myth of the writer's retreat, the typewriter myth, and then what actually happens behind the scenes. 

Hopefully, you'll realize that you, too, have everything it takes to write your words down in the format of the book. 

Is it worth writing even if no one will pay attention?

Melissa wrote a best-selling cookbook back in the height of the Paleo movement called Well Fed. But now, ten years later, she wants to write about something new, and she's not sure her audience will follow.

If you've ever struggled with having a "platform" or "audience" for your writing, today's episode is for you. Listen to hear about what it's like to change topics when the subject you've been writing about isn't where your heart is anymore. 

A few of the many p...

Sometimes, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But what do we do when we feel hopeless?

On this episode, author, speaking coach, and founder of the Don't Give Up Movement Amy Wolff speaks with us about mental health, writing, and how living a life of impact can start small. She brings "hope" out of the clouds and down to earth: naming its components and giving insights on how to get back to feeling hopeful.

New book: Signs of Hope: How Small Acts of Love Can Change Your World*
dontgiveupsigns...

As we approach the anniversary of the 2020 shutdown, we all need a place to process. 

Author and writing coach Allison Fallon often praises journaling as a tool for personal growth and a form of self-therapy. But what exactly are the parallels between writing and therapy? And when is it best to simply go to the professionals? 

Los Angeles Therapist Jessica Martindale uncovers what therapy is really about. Listen also for:

There's no getting around it: over time, we change.
 
As the world shifts and as you change with it, you might find that your creativity is what grounds you to yourself and what connects you to others too.

This episode, Ally sits down with singer and songwriter Audrey Assad. She ask her about creativity as healing, her journey with writing, and her evolution as a creative person. The conversation touches on her fundamentalist background,  what actually helps her write (this will surprise you), and a song that means something special to her.

What is...

Do you feel like you're living in an unstable world? (We sure do!)

Today's guest,  poet and a creative coach Mark McGuinness, outlines how we can find stability and assurance in our own creativity. Listen to this conversation to learn:

Find Mark on the internet in these places:

Mothers notoriously have no time in the day and no grace for themselves. Bunmi Laditan, writer and mother living in Quebec, Canada, does it differently.

On today's episode, she shares about what a writing practice has meant for her, as a mother. She calls writing her nonjudgmental friend and encourages all writers (and mothers) that they are not alone. 

Bunmi and Ally have a heartfelt conversation about motherhood, the writing life, and what it means to know we are not alone.

bunmiladitan.com

Blog: The Honest Toddler

Books:

In the face of collective, systemic problems—where does one start?

Poet, entrepreneur, tech hybrid investor John Lee Gaston White has a suggestion: start with yourself.

John is working on a book on what it’s like to be Black in America and how trauma is passed down through generations.  Recorded on the day of the insurrection at the US Capitol, Ally and John discuss what "finding your voice" means in light of current events. 

Sometimes we get what we want in life ... and it's not what we imagined. 

Despite the fact that there were a lot of glamorous elements to her work in Hollywood, Alex Hudgens found herself feeling more and more distant from her true self the longer she worked in television—unsure of the difference between what she truly wanted versus what she was told she should want—until finally she couldn’t stand it anymore.

Alex is an actress, a writer, a badass business woman, an advocate for mental health, a personal coach, a former host for Acc...

Do you feel like you matter? Like—really matter? 

If you do feel like you matter, how do you know? 

Today’s guest is a man who argues that one way to know that we matter—really know—is to do a thing that we tell you to do all the time: it’s to write. But not just write. It’s to have a daily practice of creativity (like writing) that brings you back to this conclusion everyday: I matter. My words matter. 

Dr. Eric Maisel, the author of over 50 books, renowned coach to creati...

Most people go their whole lives without ever actually saying what's on their hearts. Yet we all have something we want to say. What's getting in our way?

It's launch week for Allison Fallon's book, The Power of Writing It Down: a Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life. Listen as we interview our very own author, Allison Fallon, on what this book means to her.

thepowerofwritingitdown.com
Looking for more? Listen to our episode Is Everyone Really a Writer? 

In this final episode of our special podcast series called The Power of Writing it Down, I talk with my friend and someone you probably have heard about — her name is Ruthie Lindsey. This episode is the perfect capstone to what we’ve been talking about…

Ruthie puts all these pieces together as...

Maybe you want to write — but life gets in the way. You’re busy, you’re tired. You don’t have a cabin in the woods. How do all of these people actually get writing done?

This is the fifth episode of a special series that’s all about the power of a writing process to create positive change in your personal life. We’re covering topics like why writing can be so challenging, what’s happening in your brain when you write, why writing is therapeutic, what it costs us when voices are silenced, and what a reg...

Who gets to be a writer? It’s a question so many people ask themselves. 

On today’s episode, I chat with some voices you’ll recognize, including Science Mike and therapist Elyse Snipes as well as a new voice: Rafik Wahbi, whose program with hip hop writing helped men in jail feel a sense of empowerment over their own stories. We talk about the voices we’ve silenced and the importance of diversifying the content we consume. 

If you have ever felt like your story isn’t represented in books and articles—or maybe you’ve worried...

If your life was a movie, what kind of story would it be?

Do you ever wish you could... pick a new story? (hint: you can!)

This week you’ll hear, again, from therapist Elyse Snipes and also from singer and songwriter Audrey Assad. You’ll get a sense of how writing about your own personal story might help you to reframe it and feel like the hero of your life — rather than just like things happen to you without meaning or purpose. 

This is the third episode of a special series that’s all abo...

The big secret about writing is: it doesn’t actually have to be that hard. It’s really simple to tap into the therapeutic aspects of writing. 

This week you’ll hear from our favorite experts, Journal Therapist Deborah Ross and the infamous Science Mike, and I’ll introduce you to therapist Elyse Snipes, who will walk us through the Cognitive Behavioral Model.

You’ll get a sense of how easy it is to change your life: just write it down.

This is the second episode of a special series that’s all about t...

If I’m really a writer, why is writing so hard for me? Most people are shocked to find that writing is not only hard for them, it’s hard for anyone and everyone who has ever tried to write—even those people who are very gifted at their craft.

In this episode, we hear from: Psychotherapist and Journal Therapist Deborah Ross, author of the book Your Brain on Ink: A Workbook on Neuroplasticity and the Journal Ladder and the infamous Science Mike on what happens in our brain as we write—and why it's so difficult. 

This...

You know how sometimes no matter how hard you try to write, you just can’t seem to get any words on the page? Hello 2020. Today,  poet, writer, two-time author and writing coach Nicole Gulotta shares why that can sometimes be a good thing, how inspiration ebbs and flows, and how in learning to be more present with our writing we do eventually get more writing done.

Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path
Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetr...