Find your voice.

It gets a lot of flak, some deservedly so, some not so much. Lena Dunham, creator of the HBO show ‘Girls’ and author of ‘Not That Kind of Girl’ delivers the following in the pilot episode of her series: “I may be the voice of my generation. Or at least a voice of a generation.”

I am here to tell you to find that voice. That sarcastic quippiness that you use among your friends? Use that. The angry, passionate, hyperbolic insistence that you command when you’ve had a few too many? Use that. Find a rhythm, a cadence, a lyricism, and use that.

I’m a person who, after I’ve seen a movie, or binge-watched a TV show, takes on the speech patterns and colloquialisms of the characters. I find it difficult not to insert obscure references into my daily dialogues. These have contributed to my voice. Look, I’m not saying I know what I’m talking about, or that I should be a source of advice to those who want to write, are struggling to write, or are learning to write. I’m figuring all this out too. I recommend this:

Consume.

Rip through your books, magazines, essays, articles. Tear through novels with your teeth. Gorge yourself on culture, on film and music. Figure out what makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what brings you to your knees because of the sheer, unwavering honesty of it. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, but better yourself because of them. You are in competition with no one but yourself, and once you’ve slain that, you’re set. Live with your skin raw, feel everything, learn as much as you can. Your tenacity, your sincerity, your balls-to-the-wall attitude is one that will define you, and your writing. This is my second recommendation:

Write down everything.

I used to carry a notebook with me always, and sometimes I still do, but I’ve found it easier to rely on my phone for any shots of insight, any picturesque images, any thoughts that come to me in the moment that are simply so profound I cannot let them get away. Phones are easy to remember, you always have them. Write down everything. I also have files on my computer full of stories, essays, paragraphs of rants, arguments, debates. My writing was for so long in the form of scattered detritus, I couldn’t find all of the snatches of words written on torn envelopes or the backs of receipts. Have a few solid places to put down your words. If you’re seeing a thought repeat itself, chances are that is a thought worth exploring further.

You can’t find your voice unless you listen to it, search for it, polish and present it.

What are you waiting for?

I gave you some tools. Get going.