10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice

by Jeff Goins | 117 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

Awhile ago, I wrote an article for Problogger.net called, “Finding Your Blog’s Unique Voice.” In it, I explain that a blog needs a voice that is both exclusive and authentic.

But here, I want to share a little bit more about how to find your overall writing voice. Which is, I believe, the single greatest struggle for most writers. And it’s also the key to unlocking your creative potential.

Photo credit: Dan Foy (Creative Commons)

Spending some time deliberating over voice is worth your attention and focus. Whether you blog for fun, write novels, craft poems, pencil melodies, or inspire people with your prose, it’s essential that you find your unique writing style.

If you struggle with getting people to read your writing or with staying consistent in your craft, you need to stop chasing numbers and productivity and reboot. It’s time to start finding and developing that voice of yours.

An exercise for finding your voice

Not sure where to start? No problem. Most of us need help understanding our voice. Here’s a short exercise that can help you — just follow these 10 steps:

Describe yourself in three adjectives.
Example: snarky, fun, and flirty.
Ask (and answer) the question: “Is this how I talk?”
Imagine your ideal reader. Describe him in detail. Then, write to him, and only him.
Example: My ideal reader is smart. He has a sense of humor, a short attention span, and is pretty savvy when it comes to technology and pop culture. He’s sarcastic and fun, but doesn’t like to waste time. And he loves pizza.
Jot down at least five books, articles, or blogs you like to read. Spend some time examining them. How are they alike? How are they different? What about how they’re written intrigues you? Often what we admire is what we aspire to be.
Example: Copyblogger, Chris Brogan, Seth Godin, Ernest Hemingway, and C.S. Lewis. I like these writers, because their writing is intelligent, pithy, and poignant.
List your favorite artistic and cultural influences. Are you using these as references in your writing, or avoiding them, because you don’t think people would understand them?
Example: I use some of my favorite bands’ music in my writing to teach deeper lessons.
Ask other people: “What’s my voice? What do I sound like?” Take notes of the answers you get.
Free-write. Just go nuts. Write in a way that’s most comfortable to you, without editing. Then go back and read it, asking yourself, “Do I publish stuff that sounds like this?”
Read something you’ve recently written, and honestly ask yourself, “Is this something I would read?” If not, you must change your voice.
Ask yourself: “Do I enjoy what I’m writing as I’m writing it?” If it feels like work, you may not be writing like yourself. (Caveat: Not every writer loves the act of writing, but it’s at least worth asking.)
Pay attention to how you’re feeling. How do you feel before publishing? Afraid? Nervous? Worried? Good. You’re on the right track. If you’re completely calm, then you probably aren’t being vulnerable. Try writing something dangerous, something a little more you. Fear can be good. It motivates you to make your writing matter.

Why do you need a writing voice?

Finding your voice is the key to getting dedicated followers and fans and that it’s the only sustainable way to write. If you’re not being yourself, you’ll eventually burn out.

Once you’ve found your voice, make sure you continue to develop it. It’s a discipline, one that can’t be overlooked if you’re going to have the impact you desire and that your words deserve.

The bottom line is that there’s a lot of noise out there in the world. If you’re going to get heard, you can’t just raise your voice. You’ve got to set yourself apart, showing you have something special to say — and that you have a unique way of saying it.

Recommended reading: For more on this topic of finding your voice as a writer, you should read Bird by Bird (affiliate link), an excellent book on the writing life by Anne Lamott.

What does your writing voice sound like? Have you found it, or are you still searching? Share in the comments.

By the way, if you like this article, you should sign up for free updates to this blog. Find out more here.

← Why I Love Living in the South

6 Proven Ways to Fuel Your Creativity →

About the Author

Jeff Goins

Writer, idea guy, difference-maker. I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. My family and I reside just outside of Nashville, TN. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Google Plus.

http://www.jeffdolan.com Jeff Dolan

Good job Jeff. I particularly like your point, “Is this something I would read?”
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks, Jeff.
  - Cheryllam2468
    
    I like the way you do it, but i don’t understand step 3. My teacher gave me this assignment, but it took me a longgg time to understand step 3, and i still don’t get it. Please help me
Rachel Small

Hi Jeff,

I found my way here from your post over at ProBlogger and am I ever glad I check out your post, as I am having particular trouble in this area.

ALL these points are great, but I especially like No. 3 – Imagine your ideal reader and write to him/her.

This post has helped me a great deal already by giving me some direction in my writing. I’m looking forward to reading more of your articles.

Thanks again!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks, Rachel. That’s a writing exercise that a lot of professional bloggers and big-timers recommend. I think I heard it first from Sonia Simone.
http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

These are excellent. They would totally be worth sharing over on the BlogRocket boards. I loved number 8.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Feel free to share the link Ben.
  - http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson
    
    Will do.
Anonymous

#10 nailed me to a wall and laughed as I bled out. dangit Jeff.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  sorry, mandy.
http://somewiseguy.com ThatGuyKC

Jeff, congrats on the ProBlogger guest post. Also, great exercise above. Sometimes I feel like I’m still trying to find my “voice”, but it has been a really fun process.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, KC!
http://popparables.com Keri

Jeff…this is a very encouraging post. I’ve found that trying to find my voice requires a lot of self-definition in general. I’ve had to ask myself some tough questions that I never had the need to ask myself before I start blogging. If there’s one thing that has surprised me the most about blogging, it’s the innate self-actualization that is a part of the process.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, keri!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, keri!
Sheri

Jeff, wow. Great entry. Helpful and inpiring. Ready to get to work. Thanks for reminding us to be real.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  let’s do it, sheri!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  let’s do it, sheri!
http://spinningnowhere.blogspot.com Stephanie Kearns

Is having a “voice” different than your subject matter? Everything I write seems so random. And now that I’m getting more readers/followers, I feel the need to too think hard before I post anything. Brain…melting….
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  yes, a voice is HOW you talk about your subject. Your subject is WHAT you say.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  yes, a voice is HOW you talk about your subject. Your subject is WHAT you say.
http://stephenalynch.tumblr.com Stephen Lynch

Tip #3 is where it’s at. Having direction is the only way to write. The allure of bring able to write about anything usually ends up leading us nowhere. Sad, but true.

Looking forward to finding my voice with these tips this upcoming year – thanks Jeff!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Glad to hear it, Stephen!
http://www.FirepoleMarketing.com Danny Iny

Hey Jeff, this is a very useful list. So many people struggle with writing because they try to genericize themselves into a “standard appropriate” writing voice, rather than letting themselves be who they actually are – which would be a lot more memorable.

Congratulations on the great guest post on Problogger. Have you considered pitching Copyblogger on a post like this one?
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, danny! i’ve pitched them and we’re talking about it.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, danny! i’ve pitched them and we’re talking about it.
http://markharai.com Mark Harai

I love this post Jeff. I’ve really never thought of many of the ideas you’ve listed here and they will certainly help me find my true writing voice and/or if I’m at least on the right track to doing so.

I appreciate it, thanks!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, mark!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks, mark!
http://guidetowomen.wordpress.com/ Sharideth

you said snarky.

and you really need to get out of my head. great post.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  i say snarky, because i AM snarky.
Ron Edmondson

What a great post! As I try to write a book, this is helpful for that too. Thank you.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks, Ron. Would love to hear more about your book some time.
Pingback: Other Stuff Sunday | The Whole Dang Thing
http://movethemountains.blogspot.com Chad Jones

I think I make this hard for myself by trying to hone a voice by writing on such random topics.

Good, sage advice, Jeff!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Maybe. However, voice isn’t topic. You can speak on a lot of topics in a particular way. Just look at broadcast journalism.
  - http://movethemountains.blogspot.com Chad Jones
    
    Very true. Congrats on the ProBlogger post! And thanks for sharing your wisdom.
    - http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
      
      Thanks, man It’s a gift to me for you to listen. Appreciate you.
Pingback: Are you my ideal reader? | mandythompson.com
Nathan Eaton

I know you wrote this a few days ago Jeff, but I’ve been chewing on it for a few days, reading it and re-reading it. You’ve given me a lot to think about. I may have a post in response to this at some point, and I’ll link back to it. Is that cool with you?
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Totally cool. Let me know if you have questions, pushback, feedback, whatever.
http://www.adonislenzy.com Adonis Lenzy

Very helpful. Great insight. Thanks for sharing.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks, Adonis!
http://twitter.com/thealitybites ThealityBites

Nice work Jeff. I might write these answers out and put them up in my office someplace.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  thanks!
http://felicitywhite.com Felicity White

Perfect exercises, Jeff! Thanks for posting.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks!
http://www.gritandglory.com/ Alece

hmmmm…. now you’ve got me thinking. i wonder what my VOICE is…
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  You certainly have one.
Pingback: Listening to my Readers | Morningstar Project
http://www.lindseymorningstar.com Lindsey Morningstar

Just used your tips the other day and it worked like a dream! In particular #3 describing your ideal reader. It not only gave me more confidence when writing, but placed more depth and passion behind the words. I linked this article to my post because I think everyone, not just writers, could learn a thing or two about their communication style just by thinking through these exercises. Thanks again!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Very cool!
Paula Davis

Thanks for this. I’m brand new at blogging and working on finding my “voice” and the direction I should go. Your tips are helping me to think in ways I didn’t before. So, thanks!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  You’re welcome, Paula!
Pingback: heartbeat #4 | the dream life
http://rochow.ca Will Rochow

Jeff, I’m new to your site and I like what I see so far. I’ve been told a couple times that I write like I speak in person. Maybe that means that subconsciously I have already found my “writing voice.” We’ll how that plays out in my blogs. Either way, I appreciate what you said here, I will give it some more thought, and I will be back. Thanks again.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Very cool, Will.
Mmendus5099

Thanks, Jeff. What insightful comments and suggestions. I will be working on voice. And…I’m going to subscribe to your blog. This is pithy and meaty, lots of good stuff to read.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Thanks!
Pingback: Speak Now: Why We Need Your Voice In A Crowded World | David Santistevan
Helen David

I think this is a wonderful exercise! I’m going to go and do it now! And then read the Writer’s Manifesto! I just found your blog, so I have some catching up to do as far as reading your posts. You posted on ProBlogger? Congratulations!
I think your blog is amazing. I hope to make a difference in the world with my writing, too.
Mbetters

I read this, and did the exercise. I’ve found that I may lack in voice more than I thought I did!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  glad it helped!
http://twitter.com/JKaufman13 Jake Kaufman

just stumbled onto your blog from another … and, this is solid stuff. thank you for writing stuff to make us better writers with more intentional voices.
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  you’re welcome, jake. thanks for reading.
Pingback: Engineering Irresistible Content | Linchpin Bloggers
Anonymous

I am in love with this post. It is exactly what I needed at this very moment. I’ve recently started a blog & I find myself so caught up in the traffic & aesthetic aspect that I’ve been asking myself, “So what the heck are you gonna write about?” And essentially, that is the most important part. I really needed this and it’s amazing how you came up with such spot-on exercises. I’m thinking, Duh, why didn’t I think of that? I really loved your Fable post re: growing an audience. It really spoke to the goal of this whole thing: reach your tribe, no matter how big or small and do it your way. Love it!

Still Blooming,
Nicole Amanda
Pingback: 5 Ways to Humanize Your Company With Social Media | mohamedtazi.com
Pingback: 5 Ways to Humanize Your Company With Social Media | I Am Your Go2CreativeGuy
Pingback: 10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice | Goins, Writer | Social Business Marketing | Scoop.it
http://bunsongpayat.tumblr.com/ bunsongpayat

Im enlightened, haha!
Pingback: Start Your Week Off Write: 5 Ways Writing a Novel Is Like Bread Pudding – plus 2 Recipes! | kristin nador writes anywhere
Cindi

Thank you for your helpful tips on knowing your voice. http://cindimp.wordpress.com/
Dorothy

You look so young…!
http://junhax.com/ Paul Jun

I know some writers say not to write like you talk.

What do you do, Jeff? Do you speak the way you write?

This was a toughy for me until recently.

I always looked at writing as conversational. However I write on my posts is the way I would speak to someone face-to-face.

Also, my friend edited some work for me, and he said that in some parts I sounded too much like another author. Have you ever felt this or noticed it in your writing?
Susan Carroll

great post! in the past, i’ve worried that my language is too specialized. after identifying my ideal reader in #3, i’ve started embrace the notion that it’s ok to presume that my audience has a basic background in the topic i’m writing about & i don’t have to go back to square one with each post.

<3 your blog, many thanks!

http://resolutionrevolutionproject.blogspot.com/
Karan Kamble

The one thing I learnt very early, especially on reading Christopher Hitchens, is the importance of having one’s own voice. I have ever since been experimenting with my ‘voice’, and have seemed to comfortably voice it in letters in many a patches. To get it consistently, though, one must practice it till it becomes the very essence of one’s letters, and it’s this quest that makes this post very useful to me.

Thanks, Jeff.
Valerie

How can you be right so often? Great advice, thanks — again.
MM

Finding your voice is a tough one. The thing that gets me is I look at writers I like and how they weave their stories. I try to write my own, and suddenly everything I’ve tried to learn about the craft of writing, as well as my favorite authors’ styles seem to go out the window. Then I’m left with what appears to be mush on the page. NOTHING like what my favorite authors wrote. Also my voice wants to mimic the authors of old, especially L.M. Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. It’s difficult for me to make the switch to the modern style of writing. But I keep plugging away.
Bill Peace

Just found your blog. Thank you for the insights (and the free eBook).
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  you’re welcome, Bill!
http://winmain.vn/ Maintenance Software

These are all good steps to find your own voice. I am not a copywriter myself but I can imagine when you are constantly writing for your clients and adopting to the tone of theiar website, sometimes you may lose your natural voice when you are writing on your own blog.
Jonmark222

Jeff
Why can’t I copy and paste from here? It is very annoying. I want to follow your lessons but cant copy from here. Cant you fix it please?Jonathan
Jonmark222

Jeff: I answered your questions.
Where do I go from here?
Do you want me to post my answers here?
Jonathan
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Just keep writing, Jonathan. You’re doing great.
- Katina Vaselopulos
  
  I’ll be happy to “hear” them!
Shan

Hi Jeff, It’s me again, in my desperate attempt to find my voice. It’s funny, I struggled in describing myself in three words. In fact, I used two of your examples! I am not giving up, and refuse not to knowe myself!! P.S. I have been spending the last two days on launching my blog/website, exhausting!! So, today I am back to lesson 2 focus on my voice and narrowing my theme. I’m the little red caboose, “I know, Ican!”
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  Yes you can, Shan!
Shan

Hi Jeff,
It’s me ,yes you can Shan. I am so thankful for your courseie, and the exercises you provide. I have to be honest, until now I really did not know myself at all. It was frightening and exciting at the same time to give focus to myself as I answered the questions. I haVE alot more to revgeal about myself, as I use differnt styles in answering your questions. I have described my reader in detail. I even wrote to them explaining my blog’s intentions; to make them laugh and then think after every post. I have not narrowed down my subject, and still honing in on my voice.
http://www.liposonixoregon.com/ Ultrasonic Liposuction

I encourage my students to read their writing aloud and ask themselves or a peer, “Does this sound like me?” If the answer is no, I challenge them to simply talk about the subject in their compositions for a moment, while I jot down some of the words and phrases they use in their ramblings.
Bob

Very good. This is something I constantly struggle with. I’m always looking for someone else’s voice to write in, mainly because everyone else’s voice seems so much more preferable than my own. The result, I think, is more often than not a poor impersonation.
http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

This is really helpful. I am a new blogger and have been trying to find ways to “discover my voice”. To be honest, I don’t even fully know what that means. No one has been able to give me any real answers. The only thing I have heard is “write, write and write”. Which I know is important. But what if all I do is write and it is all crap?

This post gave me some concrete steps to begin going through the process of discovering my voice.

Great Post. Thanks.
http://www.annexcore.com/ Andy B

I will be implementing some of your suggestions very soon. Humor is a hard thing to convey, at least for me, in writing. I never know how it’ll be perceived, so at times I stay away from it even though it’s part of my personality.
Brenda

Do immigrants have trouble finding voice? As immigrants trying to fit in to the surrounding culture, we tend to copy, watch, learn. We want to fit in, be accepted. When we write, people don’t get our meaning. We have to rewrite until we sound like the culture around us. It’s frustrating. DO immigrants struggle when using their unique voice? Seems I do.
- Katina Vaselopulos
  
  Raising the same question to one of my teachers a few years back, I was told that my mother language and culture only complement my writing. It took me a while to believe it, but when other teachers and advisors told me the same thing, I started believing it. It made a difference! Little things like grammar and spelling never stop interfering, but working on your writing you can finish what you write to read well, be clear, meaninful and inspiring.
Lithia

I am still looking for my voice, feeling like I am copying everyone else and not quite getting where I want. But I am inspired. I answered all ther questions, even wrote a long free-writing text and published it (almost) without editing. This was just what I needed. Thanks.

I am well on the way to finding my voice, the rest I will do by writing 300+ words every day.
http://wordisync.blogspot.com/ Shah Wharton

A question for you: What does one do regarding dialect/regional differences?

I’m British and my writing voice shows this in the way I form a sentence, my spelling and my ‘slang’ I suppose. But I want the book to do well everywhere (I’m greedy like that) not only England, so should I make my voice less me and more generic, or just go with it as is?
- http://writersfield.wordpress.com/ Tarisai Mzwimbi
  
  I say you should let your voice speak for itself because after it impacts your local audience, the rest of the world will hear of all you have to offer and naturally make its way into their hearts. Be true to yourself. Keep improving and perfecting your craft, and guaranteed, you will be heard.
Brianjwebb

Hello Jeff. I found you to be interesting however I embark each day on a quest to bring about the forgotten life of this nation , the life that could so easily change our ways of political awareness, who we are as (Americans) and what it means to come together as a nation! Should we be proud or ashamed , should we be humble or glorify ourselves in the selfish unfair acts of taking as much as we can from each other without considering that all this taking has given nothing! So with this being said could you somehow consider showing me a way that I might convey these important words needing to be expressed in this hour of need to our country? thank-you for all youve given. Brianjwebb56@gmail.com
Deb

Hey Jeff-
So, being a student like I am, I am told all hours of the day to never write like I talk. Writing is prim and proper and I’m told to express yourself through that medium, omitting all the lols and omgs I use when I talk.
I tend to give up on tremendously esoteric writing and disregard colloquial writing. What’s the balance?
Lisa S

I have wanted to start a blog for over a year, only I stalled because I didn’t know how to set one up. So I went to a seminar and took great notes, only then I stalled because I didn’t have a nice camera to take gorgeous photos to post on my blog. So . . . I stalled again. Indefinitely. Only now that I’ve read your list, I’m excited again because I feel like I can actually be doing something until I buy that camera and get my blog site set up. My mind is buzzing with answers to your questions and I can’t wait to put keyboard to screen and create tangible evidence of my dream. Thank you!
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  You need a camera?
- Zyn-Jah
  
  I was scared too. Still am. But hey, what the hey…JUST DO IT!!!
Holly

Jeff, in 2012 I travelled with my husband to East and South Africa, Madagascar and Southeast Asia. The destinations truly made it a trip of a lifetime. We were gone 3 months. Along the way, I did a travel blog and for me, the writing was an additional highlight. I was able to condense experiences and share photos right away. It was so much fun. As I wrote my posts, I knew I was in my most energized writing voice. I was the authentic me and I could so easily picture the people I was writing for — the ones I know and the ones I don’t know at all! And now, I am on the cusp of launching another blog. As I read your post, I loved the reminder that voice is so important. If I can sustain that energized, engaged voice for my new blog, I think I will be on the right track.

Please feel free to visit Captivating Places at http://capplaces.blogspot.com. Here’s a Serengeti sunset to inspire you.
http://twitter.com/ContentByDawn Dawn-Renee Rice

I’m still trying to find my voice, but I’m definitely getting much closer. Reading this post helped me see just how close I’m getting. Thanks for another great post, Jeff!!
http://Thefieldgeneral.com/ Chris Coussens

Bookmarked this one, Jeff. Thoughtful and just what I was looking for. Getting ready to put together a blog on what finding your “voice” in a non-writing discipline means, and I wanted to have something to contrast against. Thanks!
Raosri52

Hi
Improving our writing skills helps us in different ways like getting traffic ,making ourself in improving our skills to attract different readers to our blog !! Thanks For Sharing!!
http://twitter.com/Jeremiah1v9 Catherine

Great post, I have read your book and Bird by Bird, I am presently reading 2 books by Heather Sellers, Page after Page and Chapter after Chapter I thought you might want to read and check out Heather’s books.
Rachel Pregunta

Hi Jeff, amazing post! I have written a lot of blogs in the past and until now. I guess I have one voice only. But I think I share a lot of things in myblog which makes it not that kind of interesting. Are personal blogs not that interesting?
Lisa Agosti

THANK YOU JEFF, THIS IS AN AMAZING EXERCISE THAT IS HELPING ME A LOT AND GIVING ME SO MANY IDEAS. I WILL POST IT ON MY NEW BLOG AND ADD YOU TO MY FAVORITES LINKS.
PS:
sue

Wonderful advice…..gets me thinking. As a new writer (Haven’t written since college—Nixon was in office) I find my voice wanders. My daughter keeps insisting I find my voice, but doesn’t always like the voice I enjoy. My sister however, loves the story. These are my two readers and both have helped keep me going.
http://www.wisestep.com/ WiseStep

As a fairly new blogger, I find that it is certainly taking time to discover my true voice. I also find that it changes based on various factors – what I’ve read or watched recently, time of day, mood etc!!
http://twitter.com/Sredishrack Scarlet RedishRack

Great pointers!! Now I like all but especially 1 & 3
1.Describe yourself in three adjectives.

3. Imagine your ideal reader. Describe him in detail. Then, write to him, and only him.

Definitely a lifelong learning process.

Note to self – Exercise on my to-do list.

TSD

http://www.thescarletredishrack.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004321776390 Stephanie L. Robertson

1. quirky, inquisitive, warm/loving.

3. My ideal reader is smart, spiritual, fun, family-oriented, enjoys beauty, involved with community -> the country -> the world. Concerned. Pro-active but balanced. Everywoman.

4. Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier I like these writers, because their writing is intelligent, warm, and gothic. I like writers who do not use profanity and are clean reads. I like to read about ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations.

I blog about growing up in rural south Alabama in the 70′s and 80′s. http://www.thewritesteph.com
Smiler

Thanks Jeff very good information I’m new to blogging and will give some thought to your ideas.
anita

I hate writing. It tortures and mocks my self worth. People say I am smart and articulate and then I have to write something and it’s like really? At 50 I returned to school to face my fears about writing. At 56 I am finishing a masters and writing is still a grueling and painful reminder that I can not express thoughts in this medium and yet it is required. It’s how we judge competence. I am not incompetent or uneducated or unread but I still can’t write, there is no pleasure in it, only a reminder of my greatest weakness. . .
Butterfly Jewel

This is a good article, Jeff. I usually go about writing with the purpose or my goal in mind, whether it’s through one of my blogs, stories or other writings. I appreciate your exercise because voice isn’t something I necessarily think about.

10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice

An exercise for finding your voice

Why do you need a writing voice?

About the Author

Free Updates

Get Social

Join Me on Facebook

Popular Posts

Looking for Something?

Don’t Miss a Thing!

About Me

10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice

An exercise for finding your voice

Why do you need a writing voice?

Get My Free Newsletter (Plus Other Goodies)

About the Author

Free Updates

Get Social

Join Me on Facebook

Popular Posts

Looking for Something?

Don’t Miss a Thing!

About Me