“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” – Maya Angelou
Fence and blue flowers … Painting by Pat Bean
It Wasn’t Easy Finding Mine
When I wrote the first draft of Travels with Maggie, I was inflicted with 37 years of personal journalism ethics that required me to keep my opinions out of any newspaper story I wrote. But the book I was writing was all about me, and my RV travels as a lone woman living on the road with only a small canine companion.
Now available on Amazon
I believed my writing was good, but I knew something was not quite right. Still, after the draft was completed, I entered it into a Mayborn non-fiction competition, where it came in as one of the best top 10 entries. The ranking entitled me to be part of a workshop with nine other writers who would all critique each of the book proposals. I received excellent comments from the other writers on mine — with one exception. They almost all said my proposed book lacked voice.
I immediately knew they were right. I also realized that the few times I had tried to interject voice into the writing, I had tried to deny that I was the old broad I had become, and not the sexier hiker and white-water rafter I once had been. Now I’ve discovered that being an old broad is still sexy – in a way that has nothing to do with actual sex.
Anyway, it took me four more drafts before I sufficiently found my voice. Along the way, I did a lot of soul-searching that also let me realize that the voice of an old broad, who had fully experienced life, was the much better choice for the narration of Travels with Maggie.
Bean Pat: Silence https://bebloggerofficial.com/2018/04/23/the-lost-art-of-silence/ I share this blog today because I have come to enjoy silence’s rare moments, and have learned how much those moments enrich my life.
Blog pick of the day.
Pat Bean: is a Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder. Her book, Travels with Maggie, is now up on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/y8z7553y Currently, she is writing a book, tentatively titled Bird Droppings, which is about her late-bloomer birding adventures. You can contact her at patbean@msn.com
Pat Bean's blog 
Finding your voice is so challenging, I find, because the voice varies depending on what you’re writing. I love your realization that “that being an old broad is still sexy – in a way that has nothing to do with actual sex.” Some people never discover that.
Thanks Susanne. I’m glad I made the discovery, and proud of myself for actually using the words I did. The younger me would have censored myself.
What a beautiful painting Pat. You really are talented.
Thanks Colline. I consider my paintings just piddling, but love to share them.
Good for you Pat, congratulations on your book! Beautiful words by Maya and a beautiful painting too! Way to go!!!! Hey, I’m a late blooming birder too!
Thanks for the kind words Deb, and for following mu blog