It Takes Years to Develop Your Writer's Voice

Have you ever noticed when you read books by your favorite author, you begin to recognize their writing voice? You notice small details like whether they write in short or long sentences. You notice the type of words they like to use, and you especially notice the way a story made you feel.

Finding your own writer's voice involves a lot of writing — a LOT of writing. Once you find your voice, you are differentiated from other writers. You become unique to your readers because once they become familiar with your work, they come to know your voice as well. Whether you make them happy or sad, they want to read your story.

When you're writing with intention, your voice will come through. By that, I mean you're telling your story to everyone, and you use words or phrases that are part of your style in telling your story. While you're telling your story, you use a certain tone as well as provide your perspective.

When a reader has your words in hand, you are the storyteller, and every word, pause, and tone comes through each sentence. The reader becomes acquainted with your voice, and they hang on to every word. The story ends, and the reader is so disappointed the story is over. That reader didn't just fall in love with your story — that reader fell in love with your voice.

Stephen King fans. They know his voice. You know the one — albeit creepy at times. You can't read his thrillers at night; well, maybe you can. I can't. The point is his readers have come to know what to expect with his storytelling, his voice which is inclusive of his style and tone.

Just remember that your voice doesn't happen overnight. It takes a lot of practice, and by practice, I mean writing. I know I've said that already. See below for the main elements that compose your writer's voice.

Do you already have a personal writing style?

Before I get into this section, if you don't have a copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, get one. Aside from my laptop and notepads, it's a great writing tool I keep on my desk. It's a small book you can take anywhere.

Let's say you and a friend are going to have dinner with some local celebrity, and you're going to write a story about that experience. If you're going to focus on how you write about that experience, you begin with thinking about your choice of language. Words including those magic adjectives help pull emotion from readers, but you know that. You decide how you're going to put your sentences together. Of course, you'll edit it several times. You have your way of telling your story — your style — the way you're going to talk about that dinner. You know, like how nervous you and your friend might have been when the celebrity walked through the entrance to the restaurant.

Writers are also influenced by the writing style of others. Some writers like James Ellroy write in short sentences. It's effective. You might like long sentences that take on a lot of descriptive words to create a visual. If you've never read Ellroy's work, check it out. His voice is strong.

What's your viewpoint?

Going back to the dinner with your celebrity, how you, the writer, shares what happened during that experience is your perspective. I could be at that same dinner, but we might have different views on how we're going to write about that experience. Your tone might be different too.

Do you think about your tone when you write?

You and a friend were at the table waiting for your celebrity guest to arrive at the restaurant. You're going through your feelings about the dinner meeting. You think about what questions you might ask.

When you write about it, you'll have a specific tone through the whole piece as you describe the event and how the experience made you feel. You could be excited all night or part of the night. You could be serious with your questions and happy at the end. It's an emotional effect. That effect will be picked up by your reader, and your feelings will be felt depending on your choice of words. Words that arouse emotion. Adjectives are great.

You see the celebrity enter the restaurant. You quietly tell your friend, "There he is!" Excitability. You marry your words with how you feel about the experience to create for the reader exactly what's going on.

Keep in mind how you want your readers to respond to what you're writing — how you want them to feel. This will help you with your choice of words.

Now that we lightly touched on the basic elements of a writer's voice, how will you find yours?

So you have tone down pretty well, and you understand having a perspective or viewpoint and a writing style. These elements are collectively your voice.

Don't think that all of sudden you'll know what your voice is, not even after writing one story. You hone it. It takes a long time. A long time.

The voice of another writer could even influence the type of voice you eventually have. Also, you might choose to read the work of writers who carry a tone that you try to reach for.

When you read about what others think about your writing, that might contribute to the way you write in the future. There are a couple of people in my life who are amazing storytellers, right down to the storyteller's voice they have in person. So if they have to write anything, I'll read it because their choice of words and their styles are major emotional influences.

Just remember your voice is you writing your way, using your words, and it's your decision how you want to impact your readers — how you want them to feel your experience. Be unique.

I've been writing for a long time, and I'm still working on my voice. I write chiefly non-fiction, and I have a passion for research.

If you want your readers to experience some excitement in your story, article, or blog, their excitement will be based on your choice of words, the way you use those words, and how you make that excitement pop on your page.