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How To Find Your True Writing Voice

By on May 27, 2017
How To Find Your True Writing Voice - Writer's Life.org

We often hear the term finding your ‘voice’ as a writer. But what does it really mean?

Finding your writing voice is all about getting to a place where you feel as though you have found your true authentic, unique style of writing.

The term voice makes sense when we really think about the way people speak - even those with similar accents have different intonations and inflexions, different ways of pronouncing words or emphasising syllables.

Your writing voice is just the same. No two writers will write the same story, in the same way - each brings something truly original to the table with their use of words and language.

Finding your writing voice, however, can take time. Just as if you spend a long enough time in a foreign country you might pick up the accent, pronunciations or phrases, the more you read and learn about writing the more you will pick up too.

Sometimes it takes practice and experimentation, choosing bits from what you have discovered, what you have absorbed and combining them to create your own personal writing voice. One which feels natural, exciting and, above all, uniquely you.

Of course, we all want to get there quicker. So how can you find your voice as a writer? Here are some things you can try:

Stop striving for perfection

If you put too much pressure on yourself it will be difficult to get into a writing flow. You need to relax and not worry too much about whether what you are writing is any good. Practice makes perfect and the more you write freely the easier you will find it to discover what feels natural and right. If you are constantly aiming for perfection this process will be so much harder and more laborious too.

Read as much as you can

Reading is a crucial part of your role as a writer. Read lots of different books in lots of different genres and let yourself be influenced by the ones you love. It’s not copying, it’s simply discovering what you love, whose style you admire, and how you can use what inspires you to improve and enhance your own work.

Keep learning

Never ever stop trying to learn. Your writing voice may develop and adjust as you become more experienced, and that’s great. Don’t resist that and similarly don’t try to force it either. If you keep learning, absorbing, experimenting, you’ll find your writing voice comes naturally to you.

Write regularly

If you can, try to write each and every day. You don’t need to spend much time doing so, but keeping this up will help you find your writing rhythm, it will become a habit, and when that happens your writing voice is so much more likely to reveal itself.

Don’t think about what other people are thinking

Sharing your writing can be a deeply personal thing, but when you are trying to discover your writing voice other people shouldn’t come into the equation. The best and fastest way to find that unique voice of yours is to stay true to yourself, so don’t let what other people might think get in your way.

By following the above steps you will feel so much more in tune to yourself as a writer and more able to freely create your work without  judgement or criticism. If you are able to get into this mindset your voice will naturally come to you, and with it you’ll feel so much more confident and successful as a writer.

How did you find your writing voice? Let us know!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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