Voices

I have a million voices in my head.  They have to be there – it’s my job.  Some writers have the luxury of representing themselves in their writing, or a character of their choice, but as a communications director in charge of public and media relations, my voice is never my own.

I am my boss’s voice, I am the Senator’s voice, I am the voice of the volunteer, the CEO, the agency head.  In press releases, I never give the people I quote the option to come up with what they will say.  I write the quotes for them, and let them “approve”.  But it’s amazing how often I hear back, “That’s exactly how I would have said that!” 

See? Even there the voice wasn’t my own. 

When I realized several years ago that I had accomplished the goal of being a professional writer I was so pleased with myself.  When people asked me what I did for a living I happily declared, “I am a Writer.”  Dream come true.

And as a professional writer, I am totally confident in how I write, what I say, how I can compel people to make a phone call or donate money or support a candidate or program or idea.  As long as the voice I’m writing in is not my own.  And neither is the story.

I will write your speeches and your letters and your websites and your call scripts.  I even love writing other people’s cover letters for job applications, I really do. I know what words you would and wouldn’t use, what words your specific audience wants to hear, specifically from you.

With all of these voices inside my head, spilling out onto the page, how could I not be uncertain about the way my own voice will emerge?  What words would I never use? What’s my tone? What would people want to hear from me?

The advice I most often give to people struggling to find their own words is “Just tell the truth.” So, I’m starting there.