Finding My Authentic Voice – NaBloPoMo #5

With the one year blogiversary of Rebirthoflisa coming up this month, this prompt about finding my authentic voice is very timely. It is a time for reflection and self-discovery. I started this blog because I had a need to be heard and I wanted to build my readership to allow more people to read what I have to say. I intended my blog to be a place where I could narrate the goings on in the world that interested me, but never thought of sharing my own guarded life with strangers. I thought of it as a means to an end because I wanted to be a writer and the only way to do so is to actually write. I never expected for it to grow to what it has become. I started with one follower, my sister and wanted to expand to others, but didn’t know how. Somewhere along the way I learned about networking and linking up with other bloggers and found that I am not alone. Everyone wants to be heard and I am now open to hearing those voices in conjunction with expressing my own.

I have come across some great people who share the same views as I, as well as some who are totally opposite in their thinking. I have tried to be fair and not pre-judge people by their profile pics, which we all do either consciously or subconsciously, or by their choice of topics. Keeping an open mind has allowed me to read some very profound poetry and get excited about writing my own. I have read about suicidal thoughts and been brought to tears from reading the brutally honest rantings of people in pain. All of these experiences have allowed me to tap into my own voice and express my deepest, most personal thoughts to the world. I found vulnerability in writing that I never had before and I love it. At first it was uncomfortable and I did not want to write, but I pushed myself and the results were pieces of work that I am proud to share.

As I celebrate my first blogiversary on November 22nd, I realize how much better I have become at expressing myself on a personal level. I look forward to my continual learning by participating in more challenges and courses. I cherish the relationships I am building and I am excited to host my own events on my blog. One such event was an idea I learned from a fellow blogger, Eclectic odds n sods, just today. I am planning my first Blog Party Event to coincide with my annual celebration and the countdown has started. Only 17 days left until the Big Day and I hope you will join me. Keep an eye out for more info on my blog…

Please Don’t Go…

Writing 101: Day 16 – Your Personality on the Page
What are you scared of? Address one of your worst fears. If you’re up for a twist, write this post in a style that’s different from your own.

In conjunction with Monday’s topic of lost and found, ironically today’s post is about the same topic; abandonment.

This is my confession:
Hi, my name is Lisa and I am afraid of being abandoned! I’ve probably touched on this in previous posts, but since this is one of my worst fears and I continue to suffer from it, I must bring it to light once again. DON’T LEAVE ME! That expression is on my mind a lot. Why can’t I just get over it and be happy? You know, that is my ultimate goal and I know it can happen. I ask myself, what will happen if I am no longer afraid of being left behind? Will I be that girl who gets comfortable with her relationship and then POW out of nowhere I get blindsided by my husband who leaves me?

OK, confession is over, back to the real world!

October Challenge

Blogging 101: Try a New Posting Style
Today’s assignment: build your storyteller’s toolbox by publishing a post in another format or a style you’ve never used before.

October Challenge:
Once a Week for the Month of October, I challenge my readers to perform Not So Random Acts of Kindness. That means doing something specifically for someone. Plan the deed out ahead of time and give away. (Doesn’t have to be monetary) Once complete please share in the comments on this post. Need help? Here are a few things to get you started:

Intro to Rebirth…

I wanted to gain more experience in writing a blog so I decided to take the Blogging 101 course. Today is Day 1 and the assignment is “Who am I and why I’m here”. Let’s see…

My name is Lisa Wright-Tetting and all of my life I have been resisting my gift of writing. I enjoyed it in school and for years have secretly wanted to make a living at it. It was such a secret that I hid it from myself and never told a soul. Growing up I never knew that black women could really be writers. Everyone I ever read about and every book I was given was written by or about either Caucasians or males. As a result I never had the ambition to be a writer. It was as if my mind had been told that it was not possible for me to be who I was because I never saw any other examples of people who looked like me.

As I grew older I realized there were very popular African American writers, some of them women, but I had never been exposed to them. I read their books with excitement but still never thought I could do what they did. As an adult the desire to write would not leave so I dabbled a bit in poetry, but never had the courage to read them at open mic nights. I have always had stories in my head since I can remember, but I never thought anyone would care to read them so I never bothered to write them down. Last year at the age of 44 I finally got the courage to start a blog. It was something I wanted to do for years, but was too afraid of rejection and criticism.

Since starting my blog, I have refocused my way of thinking and grown to the point that I have allowed what has been locked away deep in my heart and mind to be released! I finally realized that the writer in me will not be silent and if I don’t let her escape I will be doomed. It felt soo wonderful to open the flood gates and let her out! The first time I revealed something personal in my blog I was nervous, but I received positive feedback from friends and family. My goal with this course is to learn ways to expand my readers and reach more people. I have stories and opinions inside of me that need to be told and expressed and I would love to share them with the world!