I write because there are parts of myself I don’t know how to express in any other way. I write to untangle my thoughts, to discover how I think and feel. I write because I like having space to arrange and rearrange my words until I’ve landed on precisely what I want to say.
I write because Professor Diane Rayor told me I’m good at it. Because Angel said I ask good questions and get good answers. I write because I have so many questions, and because I am a good messenger.
I write because the word “fearless” is tattooed on the inside of my ankle. Not that I have ever considered this an apt description of myself, but I wanted the constant reminder that I cannot allow my myriad fears to call the shots. I write to remember the little things that feel big but then fade away, unless I’ve put them on the page. To try and stay true.
I write because it’s a gift to spend time in someone else’s story. Because I want to leave a trail of words that could help another person find their way. I write to preserve the beautiful, the surprising, the heartbreaking, the joyful so someone in another place, another time can experience those moments too.
This piece was inspired by poet Anele Rubin’s writer’s bio. If you’d like to try this type of writing – using poetry as inspiration and leaning into your creative instincts without pausing to consider whether your words are “good enough” – the Finding Your Voice Writing Group is for you! We’re a community dedicated to freedom of expression, authentic self-discovery, and fostering empathy through the power of storytelling. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or don’t consider yourself a writer at all, everyone can grow from this practice. Learn more about upcoming small group, virtual writing classes.
Lauren Slagter 