The Importance of a Voice

Writing is a form of art that creates a universe, real or not, to tell a story. The story gets read by many audiences who can relate to it and feel heard. When you read a piece of literature or an article, what do you notice? 

The author has a distinct voice that they carry throughout the entire piece. They want their readers to hear their voice, listen to their ideas, and understand them. That is why I write. I am inspired by the authors who write for readers to hear their voice, and I wish to have the skill to write using my voice for others. 

I have always been fascinated by authors who could begin a heavy topic in such a strong way. There would be a catch or a hook that led readers in. They made their characters' stories extremely personal, as if the readers were speaking with this character. These authors put readers directly into the shoes of a struggling person in order to understand their story. This is the skill I recognize and want to recreate in my own style.

University of Notre Dame, What is Good Literature? (2020)

When I sit down and think about what I want to write about, I often start by focusing on a  character that is complex and can be broken down. To give someone a voice, I create a fictional character in a real-life scenario. One of my stories, Rush, is about a farmer who is struggling in our present day. In the story, I want to focus on politics in relation to agriculture. During the heat wave in 2025, farmers were not given enough resources to keep crops alive during the heat since our government was focused on cutting resources. This topic gave voice to someone who had hardly been heard, yet had so much to say. 

Another piece I wrote was in a completely different country: North Korea. I wanted that piece to highlight stories that are not typically talked about in America. They have a voice too, and if it can reach readers outside, then I want to write about it.  

I want to be a bridge that helps readers understand the complexities that our world holds.  These people should expand their reading and become more familiar with stories they don’t relate to, but can use as a voice. Recognize your ability to use words: organize them, speak them, and write them. The ability to use words is knowledge, and the ability to have a voice and to speak is power. If you have that power, use it.