Inspirations on “Writing” (Part 5)

by Candice Cardenas

“The word totally in our acronym BEAUTY suggests two definitions: a sum - such as things added together to produce a total, and a whole - as in pieces that have come together to produce a total whole.” TOTALLY YOU

I combined these last two words because they really go hand in hand. Being Totally Me is about embracing all the little things about myself that make me who I am. If I don’t fully embrace who God made me to be, and learn to love every part, then not only am I cheating myself out of my own life potential, but also of what my potential is as a writer. There are so many writers out there, but what makes each voice unique is the fact that it is “their” voice. Your voice as a writer is what distinguishes you amongst the rest. Only you can tell your story. This is where collaborating with other writers gets fun. It’s amazing to see how you can have multiple voices in one story that still work together. Just the other night I was watching a movie with my sister that was co-written by one of my favorite screenwriters who went on to do her own solo work. I could tell exactly which parts of this movie had her “voice” and which parts didn’t. They all worked together well, but it was amazing to see how much being “totally you” in your art makes a difference.

In addition to being myself as a writer, there is also a more general component that can make me different from other writers. I am a woman.

“Embracing and enjoying the fact that we are women is important in the eyes of our Creator, our loving God.”

Although there are many female writers out there now, there is still the stigma that the female writers have a particular voice and must stick to a specific genre. While I reject the notion that female writers must stick to a specific genre, I do think female writers have a particular voice. However, while some may view this as a weakness, I view it as a strength.

I used to be embarrassed by how much emotion was infused into my characters and stories. I viewed my emphasis on tone and relational dynamics as a negative thing. It wasn’t until I started sharing my writing with other male writers that I realized what a strength this was. I would share a scene I had written and they would say, “How did you do that? How did you make this so moving?” Or even, “I’ve never laughed so hard.” As women I believe that we have a gift of being in tune, not only with our emotions, but with the emotions of others. This is not to say that male writers can’t achieve this, but I find it is inherent in most every woman. It is easy for us to pick up on subtleties. I now get asked for help with scenes because they need more “heart” and I am proud of that. It is my unique view of others, as a woman, that makes my writing even more compelling and accessible to others. It is not a weakness, it is a great strength.

Blog Photo by Egor Myznic via Unsplash