Finding Your Voice (as a Writer)
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"How do I find my writing voice?"
I get asked this constantly. And here's what I tell them:
You don't find your voice. You uncover it.
It's already there—buried under imitation, insecurity, and trying to sound like someone else.
Here's how to uncover it.
What "Voice" Actually Means
Your writing voice is how you sound on the page. It's the unique combination of:
- Word choice: Formal vs casual, simple vs complex
- Sentence structure: Short and punchy vs long and flowing
- Rhythm: How your sentences feel when read aloud
- Perspective: How you see the world and what you notice
- Honesty: What you're willing to say (and how directly you say it)
Good voice feels like a person talking to you—not a writer performing.
Why Most Writers Struggle with Voice
Reason 1: They're Imitating
You read great writers. You try to sound like them. Your voice gets buried under their influence.
Imitation is part of learning—but eventually, you have to stop copying and start being yourself.
Reason 2: They're Self-Editing Too Early
You write a sentence. It sounds too casual. Or too weird. Or too opinionated.
You delete it. You write something safer.
That safer version? That's not your voice. That's your fear.
Reason 3: They Think Voice Is Something You Add
Voice isn't decoration. It's not something you layer on top of writing.
Voice is what's left when you stop trying to sound like a writer.
How I Found My Voice (By Accident)
When I started writing, I tried to sound "literary." Big words. Complex sentences. Profound insights.
It was terrible. Stiff. Unreadable.
Then I wrote a blog post at 2 AM. Tired. No energy to perform. I just wrote how I'd explain it to a friend.
People loved it. "This sounds like you," they said.
That's when I realized: my voice was there all along. I just had to stop hiding it.
The Voice Discovery Process
Step 1: Write a Lot
You can't find your voice by thinking about it. You find it by writing volume.
Why volume matters:
- Your first 100,000 words are practice
- Patterns emerge after repetition
- You get comfortable enough to stop performing
The rule: Write 500 words/day for 6 months. Your voice will emerge.
Step 2: Write Like You Talk
Most people have a great voice when they talk. Then they sit down to write and sound like a robot.
The fix: Pretend you're explaining your idea to a friend over coffee.
- What words would you actually use?
- What examples would you give?
- Where would you pause for emphasis?
Write that. Not the formal version. The real version.
Step 3: Read Your Work Out Loud
Voice lives in how writing sounds.
If it sounds awkward when you read it aloud—it'll feel awkward to readers.
What to listen for:
- Unnatural phrasing: Would you actually say this?
- Rhythm problems: Do sentences flow or stumble?
- Overwriting: Are you using ten words where three would work?
If it doesn't sound like you talking—rewrite it.
Step 4: Stop Trying to Sound Smart
Big words don't make you sound smart. They make you sound insecure.
Bad: "Utilize" instead of "use"
Good: Use the simplest word that works
The test: Would you say this word in conversation? If no, don't write it.
Step 5: Embrace Your Quirks
Your voice isn't perfect—it's yours.
Maybe you:
- Use sentence fragments. Like this.
- Ask rhetorical questions?
- Repeat words for emphasis. Emphasis. Emphasis.
- Mix casual and formal language
Those quirks are your voice. Don't sand them off.
Step 6: Write What Only You Can Write
Your voice emerges when you write from your unique perspective.
Generic topics produce generic voice. Everyone sounds the same writing "10 Tips for Productivity."
Your experiences produce unique voice. Only you can write about raising three kids while building a business while writing six books.
The rule: Write what you've lived, not what you've researched.
The Voice Killers (And How to Avoid Them)
Killer 1: Writing for an Imaginary Critic
You imagine someone judging your writing. So you play it safe.
The fix: Write for one real person—someone who actually gets you.
Forget the critic. Write to the friend.
Killer 2: Editing While Drafting
You write a sentence. Delete it. Rewrite it. Delete again.
You never get into flow. Your voice never shows up.
The fix: First draft = no deleting. Write it messy. Edit later.
Killer 3: Trying to Please Everyone
You water down your opinions. You hedge. You qualify everything.
The result? Bland writing nobody remembers.
The fix: Write for 1,000 true fans, not 1 million indifferent readers.
Strong voice attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones. That's a feature, not a bug.
Killer 4: Following All the Rules
"Don't start sentences with 'And' or 'But.'"
"Never use sentence fragments."
"Avoid contractions in formal writing."
The truth: Rules are guidelines. Voice matters more.
If breaking a rule makes your writing sound more like you—break it.
Voice in Different Genres
Your voice doesn't disappear when you switch genres—it adapts.
Fiction
Voice lives in:
- How you describe things
- Your character's internal thoughts
- Dialogue rhythms
- Narrative tone
Example: I write business books and fiction. My voice stays consistent—direct, conversational, no BS—but the content changes.
Nonfiction
Voice lives in:
- How you explain concepts
- What examples you choose
- Your level of formality
- Whether you use "I" or stay distant
My approach: I write nonfiction like I'm teaching a friend. Not lecturing—teaching.
Blog Posts
Voice lives in:
- Opening hooks
- Sentence rhythm
- How much personality you inject
- Whether you're conversational or formal
This post? This is my voice. Casual. Direct. Short sentences mixed with longer ones. Italics for emphasis. Questions to engage you.
What My Voice Sounds Like
I'll describe my voice so you can see how to analyze yours:
- Sentence length: Mix of short and long. Varies for rhythm.
- Formality: Casual but not sloppy. Conversational but clear.
- Word choice: Simple. No jargon unless necessary.
- Perspective: First person. I share personal experience.
- Tone: Direct. Sometimes blunt. No sugar-coating.
- Quirks: Sentence fragments. Italics for emphasis. Rhetorical questions. Lists.
That's my voice. Yours will be different. And that's the point.
How to Develop Your Voice Faster
Exercise 1: The Email Test
Write an email to a friend explaining your topic. Don't think about "writing"—just explain.
That email? That's your voice. Now write your article like that.
Exercise 2: Record Yourself Talking
Explain your idea out loud. Record it. Transcribe it.
Edit for clarity (remove ums and tangents), but keep the rhythm and word choice.
That's your natural voice.
Exercise 3: Imitate, Then Diverge
Pick a writer you admire. Analyze their voice:
- Sentence length?
- Formal or casual?
- What makes them distinct?
Write something imitating their style. Then write the same thing in your natural style.
Notice the difference. That difference is your voice.
Exercise 4: Write Daily for 30 Days
500 words. Every day. No editing during the draft.
By day 30, patterns will emerge. That's your voice.
When You Know You've Found Your Voice
You'll know because:
- Writing feels natural. You're not performing—you're just being you.
- People recognize you. "This sounds like you!" is the best compliment.
- You're consistent. Your voice shows up across different topics.
- You stop caring about sounding "like a writer." You just write.
Voice Evolves (And That's Okay)
Your voice today won't be your voice in five years.
You'll grow. Your perspective will change. Your writing will mature.
That's not losing your voice—it's evolving it.
My voice now is different from my first book. More confident. More direct. Less trying to impress.
But it's still me.
The Bottom Line
Finding your voice isn't mystical. It's practical:
- Write a lot. Volume uncovers voice.
- Write like you talk. Stop performing.
- Read your work aloud. If it sounds weird, rewrite it.
- Stop trying to sound smart. Simple beats fancy.
- Embrace your quirks. They're what make you distinct.
- Write from experience. Only you can tell your stories.
Your voice isn't hiding. It's just buried under imitation and insecurity.
Write enough, honestly enough, and it'll emerge.
Then the real work begins: trusting it.