Honor Your Voice

You're not Jerry Seinfeld and will never be. You're not Louis CK either and never will be. So what are you going to do? How are you ever going to write comedy?

You're not J.K. Rowling. You're not Maya Angelou. And will never be. So what are you gonna do about it? How are you ever going to write a children's fable or a poem?

Simple - you'll be you because all those famous writers cannot and could not be you either.

You have your own voice; they have theirs. And it all works.

Comedian Bill Burr mentions an episode in which he shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, his God of Comedy. He opened before him. So he wanted to make the best impression on King of Comedy and since Seinfeld was going to follow him, he did not want to create a negative impression or an off-key atmosphere as the King waited in the green room for his turn.

But Bill Burr being who he is of course ended up using one "fuck" after another during his routine. That's his voice. He is not doing that to impress anyone. That's the way he writes and thinks. In contrast, of course Seinfeld is known for his clean act with no obscenities at all.

After Burr completed his act he shook Seinfeld's hand in the backstage and wondered if he ruined everything for Seinfeld  by his obscenity-laden act (which, by the way, killed the audience). Seinfeld simply said "I don't care" and congratulated Burr for a job well done. At that point Burr realized that he had his own voice, and Jerry Seinfeld had his. What mattered was the TRUTH behind their writing. That's what always resonates with an audience. The audience is there to hear the ugly uncomfortable terrible TRUTH in one way or another. If your voice is authentic, they'll see the integrity in your wiring and delivery right away. Otherwise they'll smell you out as an impostor, as a wannabe.

So be true to yourself and honor that natural voice inside you. If you want to use obscenities, go ahead and use it in your work provided that's who you really are. If you are dropping the F-bomb every second because that's how Bill Burr or Chris Rock or Louis CK write and talk, you are in for a deep disappointment because it's not going to work. Your writing will be stilted, unnatural, and the red flags will go up at every word and syllable.

Be yourself because that's all you've got, and that's plenty!  Love and honor your voice and write the way you are. Success depends on many factors in life, especially material success. But at least preserve your self-love and dignity and maintain that inner poise, that central rock of your identity, and be a witness to the miracle of your temporary existence here on planet earth.

Your voice, the way you write and think naturally, is your treasure. Lucky you!