I’ve been challenged in an entirely new way that I admittedly am not quite sure how to react to. While taking my second screen writing class in college, I’ve often been hearing that I need to find my artistic voice. I have been asked very specifically what tone I want to set in my work and what exactly I want to say to the world. I’ve been struggling with this because I realized that up until this point I’m not quite sure I ever knew the answer. The tricky part about this is that I thought I knew what I had to say and now I feel like my inner thoughts are being challenged. It took me all of three days to realize that this is in fact, a very good thing. Let me tell you why.
This series of events has prompted me to search for ways to make my artistic voice a little louder and my creative decision making a little clearer. I’ve found some tips that may help you find that exact thing too.
First, it’s important to eliminate all distractions.
This one is crucial because it will allow you to plunge into a zone of meditation that is difficult to come by with distractions close at hand. This includes cellphones, televisions, laptops, and basically any and every electronic device that you set your attention to. Entering a state of meditation allows you to unlock the unfiltered thoughts of your subconscious which help you discover what exactly it is your thinking rather than the politically correct version. Although reading can be beneficial to finding an artistic voice; in this case, it can do more harm than good. This is because your mind is focused on someone else’s thoughts rather than your own and it can become a distraction. Even music falls into the same category as reading; they are all distractions. To avoid these overtaking your daily rituals, take approximately 10-30 minutes a day to find a safe and quiet space to let your thoughts roam free and just be with yourself. Spend some time with your thoughts and you’ll be surprised what they tell you.
And make sure to observe, observe, and observe.
Never stop observing. This means any and every aspect of life. Observe every human, every experience, every ride on the subway, and even every interaction with a store clerk. The key to being a great storyteller is having stories to tell. Seems redundant but I can’t stress it enough. A writer is a sum of his or her experiences so it’s important to experience all you can. While experiencing these things be sure to take the appropriate mental notes to remember these interactions. They will help you write better characters with more depth and conjure more complex plots.
*photo courtesy of Dollar Photo Club