How to Find Your Writer's Voice

If you've ever found yourself drawn to the work of a particular author and find yourself reaching for their writing time and time again, chances are good you've probably identified with their voice.

So What is a Writer's Voice?

Basically, a writer's voice is simply their writing style. It's all those unique elements that make it possible to identify their writing without ever having to see their byline. It's the essence of who they are. It's all those aspects of writing which give readers the feeling that the writer is comfortable with themself on the page.

Why is Voice So Important?

Finding your voice is critical to good writing. Without it your work will come across stilted and dry. Think of it this way: You have two identical pieces of toasted bread, the only difference being that one of them is buttered and one is not. For all practical purposes the essential elements are the same, they're both slices of toasted bread. But the one without butter is bland and tasteless, while the one that's buttered is a lot more palatable and far more pleasurable to eat. Your voice is the butter. It lets the essence of who you are shine through your work and adds wonderful splashes of color and personality to your writing which make it more appealing to you reader.

So How Do You Find Your Voice?

Well, practice makes perfect! And the perfect place to start is by writing just as you'd speak. Think of it as 'chatting' on the page. Imagine you're having an animated conversation with a very dear friend. Think of all those colorful details you'd add to the conversation to make sure that your friend understood you exactly. And forget all those fancy ten-dollar words and technical jargon unless they're really relevant to the type of writing you're doing and essential to getting your point across. Read it through several times and look for ways you can make it better. You might also want to consider asking a friend look it over and really take to heart any suggestions they might make.

Bottom line? Writing should be fun! Don't expect immediate perfection, just aim for consistant improvement and celebrate the progress you make. Keep at it until you've got a piece of copy you can be proud of. And don't forget the most important thing... be yourself and let your own unique personality come shining through. This is what will attract your readers, and before you know it, you'll have a loyal following of your own!

Happy Writing!