Mental Tools for Writing and Life

The Person Behind Your “I”

• Where does a writer’s voice come from?
• What defines that voice?
• What makes it sound like you?

Tools for Thinking

Your voice starts with understanding who you are and what you want to say. That may seem obvious, but few writers begin with a clear view of themselves.

These lessons emphasize the process for getting to a meaningful story, reinforcing the value of a self-journey, bumps and all. Many people worry about using the first-person voice in their writing, sure they’ll say the wrong thing or don’t have a right to speak. For that reason alone, finding your own voice matters.

Personal storytelling calls on you to observe and question yourself.

Part of this journey involves honing key tools for thinking. Writing from a personal perspective relies on four mental tools in particular: self-awareness, an eye for details, active response, and questioning (see box below).

And here’s a secret. These four tools are the foundation for effective communication in general. Learning to write more personally provides a creative outlet, but it also helps you think about what you want to say and how to express it to others.

That’s why Finding Your First-Person Voice combines writing activities with the cultivation of self-awareness, empathy, and insight. The resemblance to Buddhist practice is not accidental. Personal storytelling calls on you to observe and question yourself, uncomfortable as that may be, and to pay close attention.

Unlike traditional writing courses, the “Lessons for Life” give you space to explore different approaches without others judging your work. Here, you do all the thinking and evaluating – and you decide whether to share your writing.