I am always writing.

Sitting in the car at school, standing against the counter cooking dinner, until the last possible minute I am writing. I write because it is my must. And I write to myself — to the person I know myself to be.

We are told to fit our voice into existing boxes. Carousels. Forms. Ways of sharing our stories that were never made for us. And after a while our voice can't find itself inside those pre-determined shapes.

When I read someone's writing I know immediately if it is from their real voice. I know when someone is performing. And I know when they have broken through. I know because I have been writing for a long time and am able to do so from my real voice.