Sometimes the challenge of writing is NOT to let your personality shine through your writing. But occasionally your editor asks you to put more of your voice in your writing, which can often sound easier than it is, especially with certain topics or assignments.

I asked expert Laurie Scheer, who will be teaching Intro to Writing for Women's TV and Cable Shows and Working in Television and Cable as a Writer or Producer, whose enthusiasm for media and creativity is infectious, so take one of the courses! According to Laurie, "We all have numerous voices talking to us within our consciousness. What I mean is that we all have the poice that was the little boy or girl, the voice of a high school student, the voice of a bride or groom, mother or father, business executive, runner, etc. Each one of us knows what it is like to live (and play) those roles specific to our own lives. I would suggest to all writers to call up their "little girl" or "brother energy" or "mother energy" or their "wannabe bride" energy to help to inject their personality into their writing.

"Writers can choose to use characters as masks to project this energy, or they can utilize dialogue or narrative. Using all of the aspects of a writer's personality, like holding up mirrors for each one of them, is a valid and strong way to get energy across within writing. If you don't have any reference to these feelings, say you are writing about an Australian Aborigine, then go to the closest energy you have within your reading knowledge, research, or real life experience to gather up what it must be like to be that character or to be a character IN a particular situation - i.e. perhaps the first time you experienced being alone on the side of a mountain overlooking a vast prairie or a camping experience where you needed to find water - and amplify it to embrace the character or situation you are writing about.

"Calling upon inner strength and various inner voices will not only help writers to inject their personality, it will also assist in assuring that all characters do not sound and act out in the same manner. So often, a writer's characters seem like one dimensional paper doll-like people who are all doing the same things - avoid this."

"If you're having problems inserting your own personality into a piece, you should step back and ask yourself why," adds Emmy-nominated writer Alan Cross, who will be teaching Writing Comedy for TV for Mediabistro. "It's generally a lack of confidence: if they don't like my style, they don't like me, I don't like me, I am worthless. And then you're back on the junk. It's a vicious cycle.

"Recognize that when someone asks for more of your own style, you've been given a gift. Let it all come out. If you go too far, you can always scale back. Your writing will always be at your best if you trust yourself.

"Sometimes they might not like your style--look at Larry David on Saturday Night Live. He worked there a year and only got a few sketches on. They also rejected sketches that years later became great Seinfeld episodes. He trusted himself enough to know that injecting his own style was the right thing to do. You should, too."