Every Story Must Find a Voice

Dear Net Buddies & Blazers,

One of South Africa’s most famous sons is the author Zakes Mda and one of the best known quotes from his debut novel, Ways of Dying, is “Our elders say that an elephant does not find its own trunk heavy”.  (Hmmm.  What do you think of that, based on what you’re going through right now?)

As you probably know, Zakes Mda is a world-renowned writer: a poet, a playwright, a novelist (with 12 books under his belt), an artist and these days – from his home base in Athens, Ohio in the USA – he’s working on a fantasy feature film with his son Neo, who is an animation artist.  On top of all that, he is writing the libretto for an opera! (That’s the words that are sung).

For Zakes, there’s no limit to the way in which he is able to make words come alive and the funny part is he only uses one finger to type! But, whatever the art form, for him it’s always about ‘story’.

“A story just happens.  An idea strikes you because you have seen something and it demands to be written.  It tells you: “Hey, I’m a story. Write me!” 

How will you tell YOUR story?  Not everyone likes to write but there are so many forms of creative expression: singing, dancing, painting, designing clothes, making music, taking photographs, personal styling … and the thing they all have in common is that they can help you find YOUR voice so you can tell your own, unique story.

What will you share with your Video Mentor and the rest of your Infinite Family when you get back to the LaunchPads?