Writing As a Means of Self-Expression and Communication: The Art of Voice
Writing as a means of self-expression and communication, to be heard, to be realized, is at the top of a writer’s list. We writers who are committed to self-expression knows it takes clear communication skills to be considered a good writer. When we are speaking of ourselves, our lives, sharing our stories, we are reaching out to communicate, to highlight the experiences of our lives. Self-expression is at the very center of communication.
The art of the voice — the means of contributing to the world who we are — helps us share the ultimate narrative. The narrative of who we are as we embark on journeys, trips, evaluations of ourselves as well as our circles, is transformative. This practice, this deep diving, also helps us empower or encourage others to write and share their narratives. Our narratives are important in defining who we are, what we seek to become.
With over thirty years of writing experience, I choose to focus on narrative more often these days. Who am I? What have I done? What have I contributed to my community? My city? Society in general?
Telling my story with intricate details, with a clear voice, helps me do this in concise, creative ways. Storytellers — of which I am — knows the art of the voice after years of writing. We tell stories with various voices to capture the overall human story.
I am married to stanzas of poems, stories I have written over the years because of their details. For example, here is a stanza from my poem I Met Her at a Bookstore:
In essence, I considered
that first glance a chance
for my soul’s salvation.
Clearest to me was the
sunshine of her smile
and the beauty of her
dimpled cheeks, which
caused me to stumble
over my speech, from
time to time.
The poem, this story, has voice. I am communicating, I am practicing self-expression. With pieces such as this one, it was easier for me because I was in the right place at the right time. I was at a bookstore; I saw an attractive woman who held my attention for an extended period of time. This poem helped me capture the art of the voice. It helped me define what voice means.
The narrative is captivating. Whether it is a movie, a novel, or prose, narrative wraps itself around our brains so we obtain the truth of what is being shared with us. In another poem I wrote called Leroy And ‘Nem I write about young Black men in my native home of Rockford, IL who joined gangs and began fighting over turf.
“Leroy and ‘nem ran down dirty, dingy streets of ghettos never letting go of that devouring life that can only deliver fatal blows to any type of progression…” are lines from the poem.
In the poem I am connecting concrete and detailed truths that matter to the whole body of this piece of writing. What also makes this piece of writing impactful is that I saw those young Black men engaging in the actions I share. Your voice is what helps you capture what you see, especially in narrative writing.
I often record the words I am writing to be published to be shared with thousands of listeners. I use narrative pieces to demonstrate my writing as well as my speaking ability. To capture the right voice, I am writing from personal experiences I have had or about a precise time in history I learned about and was inspired to expound upon what I learned. How can I contribute to an essay I read about James Baldwin? for instance.
Self-expression is a gift to a writer. Self-expression is a gift to someone who is interested in writing to record. In doing so, the world knows our stories. In doing so, we are teaching about our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities and towns, about how we view the world. The more we do so, the more we are educated about one another. This helps breaks down walls or barriers: we know one another in more honest, intimate ways.
