One of the greatest quotes that I've seen when it comes to voice is by Oscar Wilde (irony not lost here): "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
The Bad News: When it comes to writing a non-fiction book, there is very little left to cover that hasn't already been written about. So many new clients come to me thinking they have re-invented the wheel. They haven't. Google any topic and you'll find thousands of results. What you're writing about is not new.
The Good News: The way you're writing about it is new, but only if you use your authentic voice and not that of who you think you should be. You're not Vex King, you're not Brené Brown, you're YOU. The key is to figure out how to get more YOU onto the page.
Exercise: Take some time to answer these five questions as comprehensively as you can.
What quality do you love most about yourself (whether others see it or not)?
What quality do you love most about yourself (whether others see it or not)?
What role do you play within your relationships? Are you the listener? Are you the wise sage? Are you the life of the party? Are you the clown?
How has your life experience shifted your perspective dramatically?
What strategies have you developed to help get you through life?
Let your answers show you why your voice is important. Why YOU are important.
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