Finding Your Writing Voice

What is a writing voice? 

Your writing voice is the bits of you that you take from within and put onto the page to tell your story the same way you would if you were telling it out loud. It's the style of your craft. When I write my articles I want to come across the same as if I was giving these teaching in real life, so I include my snarkiness and all since I want to be as authentic as I can be. 

If you're not sure of how to find your writing voice then read on and I'll take you through a few exercises you can do to bring it out of you. 

Self-Reflection 

No this isn't some deeper meaning of looking inside of yourself for your writing voice. 

Look at things you have already written or take the time to complete a handful of writing prompts and see what voice naturally comes out of you as you write. 

Do you have a humorous tone to your writing? Dramatic? Decriptive? Conversational? This is your voice. 

Read Widely

If you're still not having luck finding a voice of your own, look for it in the pages of your favorite books and any books you can get your hands on. All writers should be avid readers, not just in the genre they wish to write, but anything they can get their hands on that excites them. I will never put a book down just because of the genre if the cover and back blurb has caught my interest. My bookshelves have almost no cohesion to them. 

Reading is the best way for a writer to master something that can not be easily taught.  

Experiment with Different Tones and Moods

If you don't like the tone you found in your self-reflection then switch it up, write down a bunch of different styles and moods, and draw them from a tin with different writing prompts until you find one that feels like you. 

Seek Feedback

Share your work with beta readers, critique partners, or writing groups and gain some constructive feedback. Ask them how they perceive your writing voice, and how is it coming across to them. Do they find it unique and engaging? How could you improve it to captivate them better? 

Be Authentic 

I am who I am and you are who you are and there's no changing that. You can read one thousand books written by your favorite authors, but you'll never be them and you shouldn't want to be. 

You have your own stories to tell and have your way of telling them that no one can do for you. 

You'll never be Stephen King and Stephen King will never be you, you've had your own lives, your struggles, your own stories. 

Don't try to be someone or something you're not when the only thing readers want from you is for you to be 100% you. 

---

Nobody can give you your writing voice, you have to find it for yourself and the only way you're going to do that - is to write.

So go write. 

With love, 

B. King xo xo

____________________________________________________

*If you've liked what you read you can show your support by subscribing, pledging your support, or leaving me a tip that directly supports and aids me as a writer.

By joining Vocal+ you can earn more per read on every story you publish on Vocal.

Click my link to start your 7-day free trial today and start earning more for your stories.

_____________________________________________

This story was originally posted on Medium.

If you would like to experience Medium yourself, consider supporting me and thousands of other writers by signing up for a membership. It only costs $5 per month, it supports us writers, greatly, and you have the chance to make money with your own writing as well. By signing up with this link, you'll support me directly with a portion of your fee, it won't cost you more. If you do so, thank you a million times!

If you love what you've read you can also show your support by buying me a cup of coffee to fuel my writing. 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/barbaraking

____________________________________________________