Discovering the Sound That Makes Your Writing Yours
Every writer wants to be heard. The harder part is knowing what you truly sound like.
Many of us begin by imitating writers we admire. We borrow their rhythm, try their sentence patterns, and copy the way they describe pain, love, memory, or hope. That is not a bad beginning because I believe imitation can be part of learning.
But a time comes when a writer must step away from borrowed voices and ask the following:
What do I sound like when I am no longer trying to sound like someone else?
That question is important because your writing voice is one of the things that makes your work stand out. It helps your readers feel the real person behind the words. Your voice is simply the way you choose to express what matters to you, without trying to sound like someone else.
Two writers can write about the same subject and still sound completely different. One might write about grief quietly. Another might write about it with anger. Someone else might approach it through faith, while another might use humor because that is how they cope with pain.
The subject may be the same, but the voice will not be. Voice matters a lot because it gives writing its human fingerprint.
And guess what? Your voice is already there. Yes, you read that well. Many writers think they have to create a voice from nothing. They wait for a dramatic moment when their voice will suddenly appear. But most of the time, your voice is already there. You just need to notice it and keep shaping it. Just pay attention to how you speak when you are comfortable. Pay attention to how you usually narrate past events to friends and loved ones, and you will realize you have a voice that can also be used in writing.
One of the mistakes some writers make is thinking that they really have to sound sophisticated in their writing. They choose words they would never use naturally. This, in itself, may not be a bad idea, but being authentic makes it easier to connect with your right audience.
Readers do not always need you to impress them. Sometimes, they simply need you to speak clearly enough for them to feel that you mean what you are saying.
You have a unique voice; stay true to yourself, and you will be glad you did.
Written by Olabayo Joshua Awodirepo
Witty Writers’ World – Where Writers Grow and Words Matter.