It happens a lot when I read books, blog posts, or instagram captions written by my favorite authors. I take in each word with so much wonder and admiration a little bit of envy sprinkled in. I think, “Wow, if I can just write like her, I’ll be good.” And so I try. I’ve tried changing my voice and my style, making the necessary adjustments so I sound like whoever I’m trying to mimic. But by the end of whatever I’ve written, I read back through the paragraphs and think, “This doesn’t sound like me.”

It’s the same feeling you get when you try on a piece of clothing in a store that doesn’t really match your style. Sure, it might be cute, and it might be trendy, but it’s not you. But you think if you wear it, people will notice you. People will like you. And people will admire you.

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