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It is true: each one of us has an ideal writing voice. That voice may not parallel your spoken voice, but it likely comes very close to the way that you speak.
Your personal writing voice is something you will discover by undertaking a few important exercises including the following:
1. Your passion: write about it. What is the thing that you’re most passionate about? Likely, you’re already covering that subject. If not, begin to write about that topic.
Take note of not only what you say, but how you say it. Pay attention to subtle cues such as words you use to describe something (adjectives) and other parts of speech such as adverbs. People who have found their voice tend to write properly as their enthusiasm helps to shape their text.
2. Practice does lead to perfection. It can be difficult to write without giving yourself a chance to warm up. Just as you would advise an individual to do stretches before running, you’ll want to write for several minutes to clear the cobwebs from your head.
Write freely and ignore all grammatical rules, at least at first. When writers are restricted by rules, the focus is less on voice and more on maintaining style. You’ll write freely and begin to assume your natural writing voice. You can make grammatical corrections after the fact.
3. Be a risk taker. What is the certain way to failure? Not trying. That’s right: not even showing up.
You may think that if you don’t attempt a task that you won’t fail, but staying on the sidelines is failure.
I’ve learned that some of my best writing comes when I’m ready to simply jump in and do it. That may mean writing about a topic you’re not familiar with, following extensive research and preparation. In the first step, you wrote about your passion, now you’re writing about a topic you’re not familiar with, pushing your writing boundaries.
4. Write. Edit. Repeat. If you haven’t figured out the gist of this article, then you have missed everything.
And that gist is this: write your heart out, edit and then do it again. Soon, you’ll recognize your writing voice and will recognize your writing voice. You’ll know it when you read it, a style of voice that will shine through everything you write.
Keep at your writing too — just as a pianist will practice often, so should you. Practice does make perfect or at least very close to it.
Thanks. I write plays and am “emerging” travel writer. Your good advice about voice is well-received. Thanks…. Y.D.
Thanks, York. Playwriting seems like fun. Difficult work, but when you put it together you can have a bright gem. I’ve done my share of travel articles too, but it also a specialty that can take a lot of work.