Everybody is talented, original and has something important to say.
I know. That idea is contradictory to what most people will tell you. Everyone is original? Everyone does have a talent? Yes. Every person does have a story to tell. Granted, some stories are flashier than others (especially if you’re an LA girl who marries a cowboy and moves to the ranch to raise cattle) but that doesn’t mean your life (in a tiny apartment in Paris) isn’t worth writing about.
Making something from nothing is daunting. Sustaining the life of your food blog requires commitment and inspiration. Some people turn to friends for creative encouragement. Others seek inspirational stimulation from a good speech, a well-placed sermon, a great movie, a beautiful piece of art, nature, or a workshop. It’s easy to miss the tiny voice of encouragement inside of you when there are plenty of people around feeding you information that cuts away at your self-confidence.
Don’t believe the voices that tell you that what you do isn’t special. You are.
“Remember these two things: you are talented, and you are original. Be sure of that. I say this because self-trust is one of the very most important things in writing.” –Brenda Ueland, “If You Want to Write”
Some notes on finding your voice:
- On your way to figure out who you are, take notes. Show your readers—through words—who you are while you cook, shop, and do the things you enjoy.
- Don’t try to write in a style you think WE want to read. Write the way you think.
- Avoid easy, superficial or automatic language.
- Your words should be true, tested inwardly, and based on something that means something to you.
A writing exercise:
- Describe who you are when you go to the farmers market. Remember, it isn’t important that you go to the market. It’s who you are when you’re at the market. What makes you happy, nervous, excited, shut down?
- Describe who you are when you go to the grocery store. What’s different about you in this place? Is there something that annoys you about the smell of your market? Does the spice/meat/international aisle freak you out?
Tell us: What inspires you to get honest and tell good stories on your blog?
69 Comments
Thank you Brooke – it ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it and that’s what gets results. Xxx
bravo!! it’s all about how it makes us feel to do what we do. and if we happen to connect and inspire along the way then that’s the bonus!!
Lucy,
I thought I was smart, but I soon found out I didn’t know what life is all about.
Brooke,
You totally nailed it, girl. Thank you for this.
I am always so excited when I see you have a new post up Brooke – I know it will inspire me, challenge me, entertain me and make my day just a bit brighter!!
Criminals, strippers and Oprah may grab the headlines, but those aren’t the folks most people want to spend time with… they want to spend time with people who share their interests and their passions!!!
I tell this to my writing students all the time. When writing it is your voice that has to be heard. Who was this speaker anyways?
I am yet to attend a food blogger conference, but I have read a lot of advice about “strong content”, original content”, “useful information”, from the more experienced bloggers. Most of the time I cannot find myself in their description, because I have never been good in Marketing (even though I took a class at the University and received an “A”:)
But I don’t write to sell anything, just to let the stories out of the cave they lived in my whole life. When people tell me they look forward to curling up on the couch and reading my new post, I don’t need math and business.
I read your blog because you manage to reach out and touch the most tender parts of my heart. I cannot put the monetary value on the words I read in your posts which reverberated with me. But are you fascinating? Absolutely!
Thank you!
Though I do probably think I’m way more interesting than the rest of the world does.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chef John and GarrettMcCord, Michael Procopio. Michael Procopio said: You're fascinating. No, really. You are: bit.ly/fa0NF3 @foodwoolf […]
Thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement! At the end of the day, I think people read blogs to connect: know they are not alone, find people with similar interests, and sometimes learn people who are braver, more daring, and adventurous than themselves. I hope to be brave enough to offer that to my readers!
Great post. I can’t believe that the speaker would say something as negative, hurtful and discouraging as that!
I’m glad that you could see the truth.
This post is just what I needed to hear. Sometimes when I read the popular food blogging sites I realize how “lacking” mine is. I’m just learning how to photograph better. I don’t write fancy recipes. Surely I don’t have a huge audience.
Instead I write about what is important to me: family dinners and why every family needs them. It took me a long time to realize that I what I write is important. I’m not trying to teach someone how to make a complicated dish that is beautiful. Rather I just want to create meals that bring mom & dad together with their kids all laughing around a dinner table…and that’s okay. Sometimes a basic pizza recipe is all anyone needs.
Stephanie, I’m glad this post connected with you! Keep telling your story.
B
Love this post. I have always been a process over product type of gal. Lets face it, not many get famous from blogging. It is more of a popularity contest and to me that isn’t very attractive. I appreciate this post because if a writer loses their voice all their writing is for the reader is mumblings.
Brooke, awesome post! It was an inspiring way to start my Monday.
Oh Brooke, such a powerful post that I really needed to read. I have been hitting some creative roadblocks lately & this post will help me get back on track. Wonderful! xo
Thankfully, I did not attend this conference. It’s intimidated enough trying to find my voice and I don’t want to be shut down, I want to be inspired. Thank you for the encouragement to push forward.
This is like one of those deals where a mom tells her little heifer ” Of course you’re great at ballet, honey” Not all people are fascinating, Brooke. Not all corn muffin recipes need to be brought into the light. The world never needs another David Leibovitz. We have one. If he died, we could replace him with one of the other 75,000 blog-writing pastry chefs. but I would miss him, because he doesn’t torture me with monotone drivel and gluten-free horse puckey.
Stop the coddling and sycophancy, please.
(and to every one of you twitterers ready to snark because you kind of know you suck, go suck on something coated in smoked salt and pipe it)
Marisa
It isn’t about the corn muffin. I’m talking about people exploring who they are as they make the corn muffin. Not everyone puts care and energy into their work, and the point is that they should. Thank you for your comment.
thanks so much! food blogging is a mixture of excitement and frustration but anything that helps us work through all that is valuable.
Truly, I thank you for this. You are right on, and I needed a reminder today. Take strength from knowing you are encouraging an honest world!