My search for my authentic writing voice is an extension of my pursuit for freedom

To find my writing voice, I need to let go of writing conventions. This is easier said than done because it is uncomfortable to write against writing conventions.

But finding my authentic writing voice is so critical because it maximizes freedom. Freedom means what works for me might not work for you. Freedom is the pursuit of what works for me (i.e., freedom requires self-reliance). When I pursue freedom in writing, I define what works for me, which does not always correspond to the norm.

Most writing advice comes from Western writers the majority of which only write in English. Meanwhile, I am a Pangasinense living in a Tagalog region who writes mostly in English. My context as a writer necessitates that I go against the norm and do my own thing.