“As I continued writing, I gradually began to blend the best & most vulnerable characteristics of each of my voices together.” – dimitrireyespoet.com
Looking back at my other videos this can be considered just one of the blogs in a very important set of discussions. If you are struggling with having a “voice” I would first encourage you to revisit one of my first blogs, “Be the Speaker Not the Writer” that really breaks down how we should think about the voice speaking in the poem. The next blog, “Let’s Talk About Voice in Your Poem” discusses how we should consider how we use voice in a poem.
I really needed to write on this subject because even more than usual, I’ve been receiving messages and holding conversations with poets not being able to write about certain subjects. If you are among them, know that it’s okay because after all, we are all multidimensional! We’re going to write poems that aren’t good and they’re always going to get us to the better poems. This is something I didn’t understand early on.
When I began writing seriously, I remember thinking that my work came from three distinct speakers in my head:
- A bald black man with a goatee. Sometimes wearing dark blue carpenter pants with a brown wash and an Enyce sweater or a plain black button up flannel and cargo pants.
- A Latinx teen that looked nothing like me but what I envisioned was a more streetwise version of myself.
- And an angsty emo kid with a guitar— closest to looking like me. (go figure!)
None of these speakers were my true voice just yet but it got me closer to who my authentic self was each time I penned a poem. As I continued writing, I gradually began to blend the best & most vulnerable characteristics of each of my voices together. It was with the poem, “Wildflower” that I had my breakthrough moment and realized where my work was going. For the first time, the work “sounded” like me, rather than another. This was the beginning of my voice!
These days I don’t think of my writing in terms of multiple personalities because my work has now both compounded and evolved from three identities into one singular, consistent voice— a voice that develops uniquely from an individual who’s writing over time. Though some naturally take to a voice that feels authentically theirs, many writers are experimenting until they feel that authenticity, which is the first out of three things to remember during your self discovery process.
Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez, a poet from DC, explains this authenticity perfectly during an interview on my YouTube channel. I encourage you to watch the whole video while paying specific attention to minutes 12:45-15:15 and check out the rest of my interviews where I ask our guest writers important advice about writing, careers, and their work.
Coming to terms with what “feels good” in your writing, writing what you know, and also reading what you like all contribute to that self discovery but the 3 important things to remember during the self discovery process are to always remain true and authentic to yourself, reflect upon your feelings, and observe the world around you. If you are in a constant state of reflection and observation, you will be able to dictate whether or not you are being true with yourself and how you can edit yourself to let a true personality shine through.This is easier said than done, but with practice and a support system, you can enjoy this learning experience. Don’t have access to a poetry support system? Join my Patreon community and work with me or participate in one of my Writing Workshops. They’re both safe spaces that will nurture your writing in an inclusive and encouraging space.
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