Beginner’s Guide To Finding Unique Writing Voice

In the last blog, we dug up the roots and answered the first basic question for all writers: What is a Writing Voice? The next natural question that proceeds is how to attain that much desired writing voice. Much like you, I didn’t know the answer myself. I fell and stumbled on my way to that answer.
I will tell you what you can do to attain a writing voice, so that you don’t have to go through the same problem.

How to attain a unique writing voice?

The answer is simple: practice, write! Or should I say not that simple, after all. Writing is part of the work. First comes the big question: What do you want to specialize in?
The one big mistake every newbie makes (and I made it too) is practice without direction. Don’t do that. Start researching through various types of writing platforms like fiction, non-fiction, print, digital, blogging, social media and more.

Choose one niche to begin with. Explore poetry and sonnets or creative non-fiction.
For fiction writing lovers, I suggest you pick up short stories. Most beginners start with blogging or digital magazine articles as they allow a certain sense of liberty along with the hope of large audience. Choose something that you are passionate about.

Now, that your big decision is made, start developing your writing voice:

• Look for various inspirations in that field. Choose something you connect to, something you like.
• Subscribe to their newsletter, read all their articles and follow their work.
• Compare two or more works from different writers.

In the beginning, choose material that is simpler to understand. Grasping an understanding of writing voice is more important than getting your articles right in this exercise.

• Note the difference and similarities.

Since you are a beginner, there is no need to get in depth. Look for simple things: are there more adjectives in one than the other? Short sentences or long sentences? Eloquent words or simple conversational language? Small paragraphs or single liners? Use of quotes or not? These are the simplest things to spot in any article.
If you notice stuff like emotional impact and sentence constructions and rhythm, save them up for later when you are ready to move to more complex practice.

• Write one or two different articles/ pieces on the same topic with each of the different writing styles you studied.
• Put your pieces through plagiarism tests.
• Edit, edit and edit until it is original.
• Is it still readable? The real answer to that question would be ‘no’, and that is alright.
• Time to edit and recheck. Do it more and more.
• When you are satisfied with your work, answer this question: what makes it different from those you took inspiration from?
• Pull these pointers aside.
• Start from step one and pick variety of reading material to compare.
• In the end, you will have big list of your characteristics that make your writing style uniquely yours.
• Use these pointers to write on various topics.

Remember that you might have to rewrite multiple times, edit even more. It may be tedious but tenacity and diligence go a long way in a writing career.

Good luck practicing.

See you next Blog!