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'r...

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 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...

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 life Legal ramif...

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 Be...

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 do What to do before reaching out to an agent How to reach out to an agent Website: thebinderyagency.com Podcast: On Publishing Links from th...

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 episo...

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. b...

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 he...

 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...

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...

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 exper...

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 distractio...

 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 publis...

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/amyy...

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 thes...

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:  what it means to be a writer what it's like to writ...

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 a...

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...

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 A...

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 t...

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...

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 teach...

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 did...