Writing and me. Writing for you.

By Clarissa Walsh

Writing is my creative outlet. Writing is my therapy. Writing is my release.

Writing for me is not just putting words onto paper, or letters on a screen, writing is my way of expressing myself, helping others to express themselves, and quintessentially telling a story, whatever that may be. Language is my superpower.

From a young age, I found myself either with a colouring pencil in hand, drawing or doodling, already feeling that connection with a tool and a piece of paper. The majority of these drawings and doodles were in fact words – I couldn’t get enough of perfecting the curvature and putting my random thoughts out into the world. That feeling has not stopped. You will still find me today, sub subconsciously picking up a pen or pencil and scribbling, scribbling, scribbling, from restaurant napkins to the back of handbag receipts. These fingers don’t want to stop, and I don’t believe they ever will.

There are people who can talk someone’s ear off, there are people who are magicians with mathematics, there are some who know how to fix an engine without even looking, but for me? I seem to be able to write about anything and everything like a true case of word vomit but it’s easier put down in writing than saying them out loud.

The power of language is underestimated, and I feel grateful that my ability to connect thoughts, to words, to paper is something that allows me to live my passion, day in and day out.

Whether its writing poetry in my spare time, or copywriting for clients, the enjoyment, and satisfaction I get from both, during the process and after, is a feeling even I find hard to put into words. Free-flowing letters flying out of my head, each with a feeling, a meaning, and a purpose. Collectively, this jumble sale of jigsaw puzzles comes together like a perfect Tetris game.

Writers block is a real thing, from professional writers to those just starting out, the frustration of not knowing where or how to start and the doubt you may never be able to do either. Well, you don’t have to. You don’t have to feel this intimidating pressure, the one where the ball of the pen feels like its frozen in time, and your mind is ferociously busy yet empty at the same time. Get someone to help. Talk it out. Shake it off.

I start much of my work with a notepad. I write random words relevant to the project at hand. From adjectives to key facts. Why? I find this an incredibly helpful way to start pulling my mind apart, little by little; remember Dumbledore pulling memories out of his head with his wand? It feels a little bit like that, maybe just not as cool and no I don’t have a 4ft grey wispy beard.

Start small. These tiny random jot-downs, will surprisingly help clear your head, organise your thought process, and start building your story, random word, by random word. Building blocks are key to the foundation of a good piece of writing.

So why is storytelling so important?

Connection. Emotion. Expression.

Telling your story, your brand story, your business story, opens up a channel of human connectivity between you and your customer. It helps people understand why they should trust you, believe in you, buy into you. It showcases the bigger picture and gives a deeper understanding of who you are and what you represent. Storytelling evokes emotion within your audience and helps to not only build a relationship but propel you to stand out from your competitor, and stand out from the crowd. It is imperative to articulate your values in an approachable manner, a fine line between being an expert and being intimating, find the balance and the rest is history.

Storytelling is the foundation to a successful brand, there is no doubt about that.

Figuring out how to tell that story is the challenging part for many, and getting from A to B with the who, what, how, when, why, theory can be a difficult journey to embark on. Joining the dots is where we jump in, able to hear your thoughts, understand your vision, and package it up into a beautifully wrapped wordsmiths gift. We are here to convey your fundamental message to whoever needs to hear it, from customers to investors, colleagues to clients. Taking your ideas, and communicating them clearly, consciously, and collectively.

How do I know what my writing voice is or what it should be?

The answer is simple. Be authentic. Whether you’re writing for yourself, or for someone else, the most important thing is not to force it or fake it. Ironic seeing as a ghostwriter is pretending to be someone else, but the essence of it is to be as real as possible.

If you are writing for yourself, your own voice will soon become apparent. The more you write, the more you realise how you want to speak, what you want to say, and what you want to write about. Needless to say, your voice may evolve over time, the deeper you get stuck into the direction you want to go. Flow with it. Let the words speak for you and the rest will come naturally and fall into place.

If you are ghostwriting, it’s time to get those acting boots on. Whilst you may not be taking centre stage in the West End, you are still taking on the persona of someone else, much like that of a character. Expressing someone else’s emotions. Articulating someone else’s thoughts. You need to understand them. Embody them. Think like them. Become them. When you start off writing for someone else, having a casual conversation is a great place to start. You soon pick up on their vocabulary and their mannerisms which you can in turn transfer into bespoke messaging on paper. Whether it’s a more colloquial way of language or more formal, remember you are taking on their voice, not your own. Style of speech, pace, and tone.

Being able to take on someone else’s voice is as liberating as expressing your own. Channelling words into a story is creatively invigorating. Every day you are learning something new, about someone else and about yourself and this knowledge will catapult you to success if you stick at it.