Finding Your Voice as a Writer 

So, you know you’re a writer ... now what? The next step is finding your voice. But first, you need to know what "voice" is in writing. 

What Is "Voice"?

To help you understand what I mean, consider this famous quote:
 

“Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive that is you-er than you.” - Dr. Seuss

It’s a lovely quote, no doubt about that. But actually, this concept is applicable to writing as well. When it comes to writing, every writer has a unique voice (or a unique way of writing).

"Voice" refers to a writer's style. It reflects how they really talk and communicate, including words and phrases they love and tend to use a lot. 

For example, you may have noticed that I have a very positive style of writing. I avoid using the negative words like "I can't." Instead of saying: "I can't wait until this book comes out," I'll say: "I'm so excited for this book to come out!"

The Key to Finding Your Voice

To find your voice and bring your writing to the next level, I recommend these three practices.
 

Discover your WHY

Figure out why you’re writing. What’s your purpose or passion? Your writing is going to sound a lot different if your goal is to teleport your readers into a fictional world versus if your goal is to instruct/teach your audience.

For example, I write because I want to help children feel empowered and confident, so I use a lot of encouraging and uplifting language!

Write, Write, Write

The more you write, the stronger your voice will become. You’ll learn what you like, what you don’t, and how to get the message across in your own unique way.

Get an Outside View

Ask a friend if there are words or phrases you use all the time. Or you can record yourself talking about a topic naturally, making notes about words that pop up over and over. Or, if you've written a lot of content, look back on your work to discover recurring styles.

If you do these three things, you’ll be well on your way to finding your voice.Still not feeling confident? I wrote a blog post all about feeling worthy as a writer. If you missed it, you can find it here.