If you’ve been blogging for more than 5 minutes, I’m sure you’ll have heard people talk about your ‘voice’. What does ‘finding your voice’ really mean and why should you care?
I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still.
–Sylvia Plath
WHAT’S YOUR BLOGGING VOICE?
Have you ever read a post and felt as if the author was talking directly to you. You felt like you were friends, or that at the very least that you should be! You can tell they’re really passionate, really self-expressed and they speak with confidence. People are moved by those who speak with their real voice. Yet what most people don’t realise is that almost everyone who’s found their voice had to put in a lot of work to find that voice. It doesn’t usually come naturally. When you read something that has been written about a personal experience, you get a sense of the person who wrote it. If they write well their personality will jump off the page. Their writing could make you feel as if you know them personally, when all you have actually done is read their words. They have the skill to make you ‘feel’, they can engage you and take you on a journey with their words.
‘Your voice’ includes your writing style, your tone, your choice of words and everything about how you communicate. If you have a strong voice it may will polarise people. Not everyone will like your voice and you know what? That’s just fine. In order to find our true fans, we will come across people who just do not find a resonance with our message and prefer to go elsewhere. Let them go and just know that you’re one step closer to finding people who will LOVE your voice.
There’s no doubt that you can develop your voice to make it stronger and more representative of you. It will not happen over night.
There are lots of ways to approach finding your voice, so let’s get started.
Ways to find your blogging voice
Write like you speak
From a young age we are taught to write in a formal way. We write letters, we pass exams, fill out forms, write essays and none of these forms of writing require us to show our personality. All of them expect formality and correctness. So you can see how this doesn’t help us to develop our skills for emotive writing that connects with our readers.
Write with passion
There’s no doubt that people write their very best work when they are passionate about the topic they’re writing about. So what you are passionate about? What do you love? What do you find easy to write about? Maybe it’s a topic you could talk about all day long.
If you love internet marketing, get into the internet marketing field. If you love knitting, get into the knitting space. What’s a topic that you’d talk about and obsess about even if you weren’t getting paid? What’s something that really lights you up in life and gets you excited? Maybe not every single passion can be turned into a career, but you’d be surprised at how tiny niches can be very profitable. Start with what you’re really passionate about. It’ll come through in your voice.
Care about the impact you want to make
Can you tell the difference between someone who’s written something and really cares if you succeed. Versus someone who’s just writing the content for the sake of it? I’m guessing you can tell that the first piece has a completely different feel to it. Naturally, it’s the people who really want to help us that we feel drawn to. When you’re writing content, ask yourself: Who are you trying to help with this content? How would you like their life to change as a result of you writing this content for them? If you really want to help people, they can sense that. It comes through in your writing and your voice. It creates loyalty. Your voice isn’t “one thing” that people can point to and say whether it’s good or not. It’s more of the overall vibe of your content, how everything you say is presented. A great voice will create a sense of community, loyalty and following. While a weak voice will just turn people away from your content.
Show your personality
When you talk to your friends and family, how would the describe you? Are you outgoing? Quirky? Quiet? Bubbly? Make sure you share your personality in your content. Infuse your quirks and idiosyncrasies into your words. Write without worrying about ‘correctness’ or formality. People who have developed strong voices aren’t afraid to polarise people. Try writing like you’re speaking to casually to a friend. This will make your style informal and conversational. Always be honest. Show your personality and share your opinions. Be yourself, staying true to your personality and your voice, and people will identify with you. Your voice, whether you’re writing a post, speaking on stage, chatting on a call, should remain consistent. There needs to be a congruence to your voice, in order to build the know, like and trust factor and build your credibility.
Read (& write!) lots to stay inspired to share your voice
“The best way to develop your writer’s voice is to read a lot. And write a lot. There’s really no other way to do it.”
Stephen King
As you’re reading, think about what you like about the authors writing style. What aspects could you can take into your own style.
I’m constantly inspired by other content creators and think this is one of the best ways to find YOUR voice. The more you write, the more time you will have to find and hone your voice. Practice makes perfect!
Copying but not copying
Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes. We learn by copying. ~ Austin Kleon
We learn by modelling, it’s a psychological phenomenon. So, why don’t we use modelling to help us develop our writing voice? This is not copying everything someone else does. Rather being inspired and taking aspect that we can do our way. The best way to work through this is to pick a writer you admire and who resonates with you. Then ask yourself these questions;
- Why do you love this writer?
- What it is about their intros that compels you to read on?
- Why do you love their tone?
- Do they have words they use frequently?
- Do they share their life stories?
- Do they inspire you to take action?
You can then use this information to develop you own voice and give you the confidence to do your version of what you like and feel connected to from the writing others.
Tell a story
As bloggers we know we should give value. Often we focus so much on giving the content in a clear way that we forget to share ourselves too. Your readers want to know your opinion on something. They don’t just want the facts, they want your version, your opinion and your stories. The stories don’t have to all be your own, they could be yours, but they also could be family members, friends, or even clients or colleagues. Your stories are unique to you so sharing them shows your audience the real you and also gives them more chances to resonate with what you’re saying.
Make sure you have a point
Have you ever read a post, got to the end and wondered if you missed the point? You skim down it again, but you didn’t miss anything. There wasn’t really a point. You don’t want to do that to your readers, you don’t want them to feel like they wasted the time they spent on your site. Your posts must have a point and your voice should help you communicate that.
Give yourself time to grow and develop your style.
As you get more confident in your writing ability, you will start to show more of your personality in your posts.
Read your posts back to yourself out loud.
Reading your posts aloud is a wonderful way to hear how they sound first hand. How does it sound? Forced or natural? You want your words to sound like an easy conversation.
Be consistent
While you don’t have to have the same tone in all of your posts (i.e being funny or sarcastic) you need to have the same voice. When your readers read a post they ideally should recognise your voice shining through. I always write the way I speak, so it’s easy for me to maintain consistency across all of my posts. Chopping and changing will be off-putting for your readers.
Enjoy it
If blogging starts to feel like a chore it will show in your writing. So, make sure you always love what you do. This will project from your post and draw people in. Be confident that your voice is worth hearing. You have as much right to tell your story as anyone else, so share your story and share part of you too. Showing your readers your personality means they will be able to identify with you so much more. Be honest, be truthful and most of all be you.
Having a strong blogging voice is about voicing your opinions, being a leader, and adding a strong dose of personality. Stop worrying whether people might not like you. Let your personal quirkiness shine through. Feel free to be different, eccentric, or even a bit weird. Because that’s how you connect, and engage, and grow your blog following.
Do you feel you have found your voice or are you still looking? Have you found your true blogging voice? What helped you nail it?
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Comments 53
Good advice. You’re right that finding your own voice tends to be a gradual process that comes with practice. It’s taken me years to find and hone mine. (I’m a bit slow like that …)
The two pieces of advice I would add are.
1. Generally, take inspiration from other people’s voices but don’t get dragged into imitating them. Your true voice is your own, not a copy of someone else’s.
2. From a technical perspective, write in the ‘active’ rather than ‘passive’ voice. Simply put, you ‘do’ things rather than having things ‘happen to’ or ‘being done to’ you. It’s a tiny technical point but one that is consistently flagged by prominent writers such as Stephen King who know what they’re talking about. Using your active voice draws people into your experience, whereas passive voice feels more like a third person narration – it’s similar to the difference between writing as ‘I’ or as ‘he/she’.
Author
Oh yes I totally agree, never imitate someone. I feel sometimes we can gain confidence in our own voice, but seeing glimmers in other’s voices. x
This ideally important for us a we’ve just started our blog AND were doing it together. We are still really trying to figure out how to go about being insistent when I’m writing some I the post and my husband is writing some of the posts. He hasn’t written much before so has still discovering his writing voice and how to keep it interesting for the readers. I know it’ll just take time.
Author
Ah it is lovely that you do it together. Good luck with everything x
I love it when I know people, and I can hear them speaking when I read their writing. On the other hand, it’s always a let down when you meet someone who is nothing like their writing. Guess it does come back to that authentic voice thing. Interesting post.
Author
Yes I guess the honest bloggers are the ones you can hear in their posts x
As a newish blogger I’m trying to reinvent my blog. I felt my old one was boring. Your tips have been really useful, thank you.
Great tips – I think it is certainly a gradual thing that is always evolving #sharewithme
Some brilliant tips as always, Aby! As a new blogger I think I’m still trying to find my voice. I love writing and enjoy reading other blogs so hopefully with time I’ll develop my own style.
Author
So glad you enjoy them x
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing.
From the start I have always typed as if I am talking to a friend. Not sure why. I have never been good with words, spelling or explaining myself but I feel I can express my feelings and not be judged through my blog x
Good tips. I think finding your voice is a mixture of habit, personal preference and practice practice practice. Down to earth and slightly snarky or dreamy and lyrical? Or a mixture, depending on the nature of the post. I don’t think you necessarily will know what your voice is until you start to get a handle on what sort of shape your blog is going to take.
Excellent tips as always. Pinned for future reference!
Some great advice hon. I think having a strong voice is one of the most important aspects to blogging – for some it comes naturally, others less so – but either way, if you don’t have one it’s very hard to stand out from the masses #Brilliantblogposts
These are fantastic tips and its so important to be true to yourself and remember why you started blogging in the first place. I have been making an effort to read lots of varied blogs which I find is helping my writing #sharewithme
Good advice – finding a voice is always hard. #thelist
These are really good tips, I’ve only been doing it for a couple of months and still consider myself ‘new’. I love just writing down and old rubbish that happens but I try and make it as entertaining as possible I’ve only just found my own style, I think I was more concerned with what other people wanted to read to begin with. Great post #thelist
It can definitely take time to find tour voices and direction of your blogs. It’s a big learning process – I feel I have touched on the outer layers and, like you say, practice makes perfect and there’s only one of you so make it unique. Writing from the heart and with passion is always the most engaging #thelist
This is great advice, my blog has been going for a year tomorrow and I’m still learning so much all the time. Thanks for sharing #TheList
Great tips! I always try to write as if I was chatting with a friend 🙁
#thelist
Whoops didn’t mean a frowny face!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂
This is great,I’ve a newbie and was worried people wouldn’t take me seriously as I don’t really do “deep” posts but I’m enjoying it and it’s certainly a learning curve #TheList
Great advice I’m still finding my feet but hopefully my “voice” will become more clear with time #TheList
Great tips. Looking back over older posts, I can see how my voice has changed. The first posts feel very formal and read like I’m talking at someone rather than to them It does take time, and you might not even notice it has happened but it does 🙂 Thanks for hosting #TheList
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
Great post lovely, it took me awhile to find my own voice & I think it comes with writing more, your distinct voice can’t help but come through! xo
Fantastic tips! It’s so true that we need to stay true to ourselves and write about topics that we’re passionate about and really interested in. It can be tempting sometimes when we go through a bit of a lull to just write posts for the sake of it to ensure that we keep getting traffic, but I think that this always comes across. x
Once again, really great stuff. Good advice and all stuff that I can apply to my own blog. #TheList
These are great tips! I’ve always written for work and I like to think I’m okay at finding the right tone, but what I struggle with when it comes to blogging is doubting that anyone who doesn’t know me in the real world would want to read anything about my life. I’ve been trying to write more universal posts for this reason but have just started writing posts that are more personal, largely because there’s a lot going on in our lives at the moment with a big overseas move. I don’t know if anyone is interested but I enjoy it and can look back on these posts in years to come! #thelist
Thanks Aby – some great advice here! I love to read a piece of writing or a blog and really be able to imagine that person talking to me – that feels like I’m
‘hearing’ their true voice on the other side. So because of that, I write as I would speak – that’s my aim anyway! Mim x #TheList
Fabulous advice! I definitely find the more I write the easier I find it and I think my voice is starting to show through, I hope! #TheList
Author
Glad you enjoyed it x
Great tips. You are so helpful, I love that! Thank you x #thelist
Great tips! It’s nice to be reminded of what is important. My style has changed a little from when I started but I believe being honest is a common theme that helps hopefully connect with those who visit my blog. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips here and it’s always useful to be reminded of these things. I think I’m still trying to hone my voice and I often worry that my writing isn’t entertaining enough. But at the end of the day, I can only be myself. #TheList
I’ve never really thought about my blogging voice before I just write! I wonder sometimes whether my yorkshireness comes through in the posts
More fantastic advice Aby! Thanks for sharing – I get so much from reading your blog club posts!
I have been following your advice about avoiding multitasking and I have to say it’s really working for me so thanks again!!
Author
Oh that is really lovely to read, I am glad the posts are useful! x
When I first started and read all about finding your blogging voice I thought everyone was slightly mad!! five months in and I am finally getting it! Still catch myself sometimes but normally manage to bring it back on track when I read through 🙂 you are right about passion though. I try to only write about things that I am inspired by. Hopefully it comes through. Thank you for sharing xx #Thelist.
Such great advice and when I first started blogging everyone always tried to correct my grammer or say how informal I wrote and I always believe that’s the beauty of blogging. It’s my voice, it’s me as if I was in front of you chatting and not an essay for school. I love that blogs are more personal. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme
Author
Totally hun, if you change what you are it isn’t your truth x
Great tips, blog voice is so hard to find at times, with life going on all around you it can be difficult to dig deep to find who you really are, and then get it on paper.
Such a great load of advice here. When I first started I definitely didn’t know where my voice was but with lots of writing and lots of reading, I think I have mostly found it! I definitely could have done with this post when I first started blogging hehe! But it’s nice to know that I’ve already done some of those things to make sure that the me in my posts is the me in real life. My personal posts are always my most popular posts! I always know I’ve done good and have the right voice I make someone laugh or cry! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Author
Thanks hun, I think people always respond to the personal ones more x
Great tips thank you! I’m still finding my voice so need to take heed of these, thank you! 🙂 x
Great tips there Aby, we are all endlessly honing our voice and that’s the joy of writing. I have friends who are Bafta winners who speak on that endless crafting, it’s a joy isn’t it. Be it screenwriting or blogging (I lecture in MA screenwriting too) I love reflecting on our craft, constantly trying to improve. Creativity really is a muscle that needs to be exercised and I do feel the more we write, the more we write (!). I’m endlessly reading and rewriting (it’s all in the rewrites-if only I had more time to rewrite when it came it deadlines)..I find screenplays, blogs both in the lifestyle and parenting sectors and beyond, along with novels a real inspiration too. I do mix my posts tonally and tend to keep HM a happy place but there are times when I need to share darker posts. I recently wrote about the traumatic birth I had with my first, it was the hardest post I’ve written and took 5 years to write but it resonated with many (my hope was that it would help others so anyone feeling as I did wouldn’t feel so alone)-blogging like filmmaking, is an emotional transaction, emotion on screen really. We all have a unique and vital voice and way in which we see the world, and that, I believe is our niche/ our usp. Thank you for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
Author
It is a constant process isn’t. I guess as we change and develop as individuals then that is reflected in our writing x
Haha should have re-read that comment, apologies for the typos, always in such a rush! Enjoyed your post!
Author
Thanks hun x
Fabulous advice lovely! Phil always gets me to read my new posts out to him of an evening, at first I hated doing it but now I can use it to hear how they sound and it really helps xxx
Author
Glad you liked it xxx
I’m just starting out with my Mummy Blog and its scary putting it out there but having read so many of your posts and other mummy blogs I feel reassured its such a wonderful community and I’m doing something I enjoy and am passionate about. Its a collective of therapeutic moments and memories to treasure the rest is an adventure to come. Thanks for such a fab blog its inspiring x
Author
Thank you so much, very kind of you to say. Good luck with your blog x
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