So I am new to this, as those I have spoken to know. I'm having trouble finding "My Voice". Previous mediums for me have always resulted in work that is dark (not monsters and werewolves, but emotionally dark ) I've had some success with this in fiction, and after a break of a few years from writing, I thought starting poetry would be the same. But It's not. I would still say my work is more based on feelings and emotions as supposed to specific topics but I'm struggling with the juxtaposition. I'm following the good advice of reading as much poetry as possible from different sources, Everything is so new, formats, rules, techniques, exposure to new poets I'm frustrated and concerned that I don't have my own voice yet to use as a comparison. But above all, I need to stay authentic. So I guess this is my way of asking - is this a problem you guys have had? Any advice? Am I overthinking this?
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@Rich
ask yourself what is your voice, rather than trying to find it. You already have it. What makes you angry enough to have an argument with another person? What jokes make you laugh? What could you debate for hours? This is your voice. Don't be afraid to write what you truly feel and don't worry what others think about it. Probably your best voice is what you have now, when you are just starting out, before you've learned the tricks of the trade. Zen Buddhists call this 'the beginners mind'. Write as much as you can now before it's too late hahaha
Thank you @Ken LeMarchand for taking the time to share your expertise and experience. You make a lot of sense in your examples and it's reassuring to know someone with your level of understanding and skill at poetry has felt like this as well. Thank you again mate.
I've experienced this many times throughout my writing life. I cannot begin to recount all the times my voice has shifted from one idea to the next. One thing I can say that has helped is to simply go with your gut. If you're feeling melancholic then feel free to express yourself that way in your writing.
A writer's voice is always in a state of flux. Sure there will be specific genres or niches that a writer prefers, such as Stephen King and horror novels, but at the end of the day there is no right or wrong when it comes to developing your voice.
One of the largest stressors I've seen in writers that I've encountered and tutored over the years is that they all tend to be egocentrically aligned. There's that old saying: a writer is their own worst enemy. Which is never too far from the truth. I think practicing humility and giving yourself permission to explore multiple avenues of writing will be the best place to start. Especially when exploring an entirely new experience.
A great introspective question to ask yourself is this: would a world class chef be as talented if not for their exploration of food? You may have heard that chefs tend to travel around the globe trying different foods in hopes that they'll be inspired to create something of themselves. This is the same kind of method a writer would use. The difference being that we writers study words and how they are used.
Another thing we often experience as writers is imposter syndrome - doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud - however, this isn't a bad thing because it is all part of the process. Trust your instincts and you'll do just fine.