If you’ve recently gotten into writing, you may have run into a bit of trouble trying to lock down your voice as a writer. And this is kind of a bummer because your writing voice is how your work is unique, identifiable and recognizable.
Because we’re here to be supportive, here are four simple questions we’ll ask to help you find your writing voice.
1. Who are you?
Question numero uno, friend, is who (or WHAT, gasp!) do you see when you look in the mirror?
What sort of person are you when nobody’s around? This question helps because writing is easiest when you’re writing as your own self. Even if you’re writing as a fictional character/persona, the closer it is to your own, the easier it is to create and execute convincingly.
If you’re not sure who (or WHAT, gasp!) stares back when you look in the mirror, you could try going through things you’ve written to yourself such as diaries, journals or texts to someone you’re completely free and relaxed with.
2. Why do you do what you do?
This whole writing thing, what is your endgame? (He-he, endgame)
Where do you want to take it?
These questions work to help you plot out your writing journey. If you’re just writing for the moment, just to get your thoughts out, you could put down your words to act as a time-capsule so you can check in later and chart your personal growth. If you intend to stick it out for the long-term, you should focus less on impulsive spur-of-the-moment writing and focus on more evergreen writing. This means avoid current trends because they’re more often than not fads and, if you’re relatively younger, go for a more mature voice that ages in step with your blog.
3. For whom do you do what you do?
For whom does your bell toll, beloved?
What’s your target audience? This question is so important it should have been first. I’m going to have a long talk with myself about this egregious oversight on my part.
4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your stomping grounds? What gives you the heebie jeebies?
I’ll give you the timeless example of myself: I mostly write comedy, in a comedic voice, because it’s what I’m most comfortable with. So much so that now I can’t stop. I’m not lying when I tell you there’s entire jokes in my university dissertation.
But that’s ME. Find YOU, unlock YOU’s voice and blossom.
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