We all have a natural I like, I want, I think, right brain mode (our original child-like thinking) that we can connect with. We also have the… you can, you must, you should (left brain) mode that is a learned behavior.

Understanding our two brains and their uniqueness helps us to find a balance. Just remember that creativity and our true voice involves our right brain and the left brain editor needs to be silenced during this process.

I know… I had to silence my left brain, a place where a very dominant voice had been planted.

Will my mother’s voice ever leave me
give me peace
be silenced
Will the silenced child ever speak
and not hurt
feel shame
or grieve

A voice walks softly across a page
spelling out sound
telling secrets
thoughtfully
quietly

I lived in a survival mode most of my life. It wasn’t until I had a right brain awakening that my true voice emerged.

A writer needs to understand how the brain can shift from the left brain editor to the right brain creator. The true voice will express itself when the left brain editor is silent.

That is the challenge.

Legal memos? BLah!! I hope I never have to write in that format. No, you are right-NO voice there. Just jargon. Thanks for reading!

@Dave – I think I should be scared of you! LOL. Actually, I could probably use some of those skills in the law arena, perhaps.

@Kay – You have an ironic sense of humor!

@Teeni – Whoever said you were authentic must be very wise… I totally get what you’re saying about technical writing changing your style. I’ve done a lot of screenwriting lately, which is more conversational with shorter sentences. This translates sometimes in my other work, much to my chagrin.

@Kraze – LOL! Thanks for pointing out that was about you and not me.

@Stephanie – It’s a tough question, isn’t it? I think figuring out my own voice can be quite the puzzle.

@Rambling – You definitely have a very unique voice! I agree about it being easier to maintain in personal writing. I find that true even in blogging.

@Jack – What a great point about flexibility. You know, I can definitely see that I have that, too (which is maybe why it’s harder for me to ID my voice.) Depending on the subject, I can come across quite differently. Very good point.

For myself, I know I have several different “voices” and I think that stems from my social interactions. I am a chameleon, I speak about different subjects (some funny, some very serious) with great comfort. As a result, I write across those subjects with a distinct voice for each area. Case in point, I write a humor blog abou the tv show “24″- once in while I will decide to throw my readers off by getting into very non-24 subjects like U.S. history, highway projects and incidents at the mall. If you read these articles one after the other and were not told whether they came from the same author, I would guess that you’d have a hard time linking the group.

And I think it’s an advantage to have flexibility. Sure, your voice can become your “brand” as many prominent authors and commentators/columnists have learned, but to fully engage your curiosity, you should never feel bound to a voice when sometimes the subject speaks for itself.