Barbara Bietz writes children’s books.
On finding her voice, and letting it be heard: “I used to keep my voice in a drawer, hidden deep within the creases of notebook paper where I had written my poems. My voice wasn’t heard, and I wanted it that way. I didn’t believe in my voice, didn’t think it was worth hearing. I dwelled over word choice and rhyme, read and reread, covering pages with imaginary red marks like a stern teacher, quelling my voice at the same time. I allowed myself to be a proud and out loud reader, but writing was private -until I took my first writing class that required critiquing. I learned that my voice didn’t need to be pitch perfect, it just needed to be from the heart. The first time I read my work out loud I felt like I was in one of those bad dreams where I show up for a college final, can’t find the classroom, and I’m naked. But each time it got easier and easier. I learned to decipher helpful critiques that would improve my work. Finding my voice was, and is, a growing process, part of honing the craft of writing. My voice is not static; it changes and shifts with the experiences of my life. In some ways I am still finding it, but at least I have let it out of the drawer.” Visit Barbara: http://www.barbarabietz.com/
Photo by Rijan Hamidovic
