Each writer has a particular way of writing that appeals to certain readers. Which “voice” will bring you the success that you want in the writing business? Find a voice that is both comfortable and successful by writing on a variety of subjects.
Have you been offended by something that you read before? Was it what the writer said or the way that they said it? The opinion may have been innocent but the way it was presented didn’t score any points with the reader.
Each writer has a style or “voice” that makes their writing unique. Different people are attracted to different types of styles. Will your style work for the area of the writing market that you want to influence?
It is hard to pinpoint a writing voice unless you write something. When writers are taught to write, they are usually given formulas to follow:
• Have four sentences per paragraph
• Start with a topic sentence
• Follow your topic sentence with supporting sentences – it's important to stay on topic.
• Finish your paragraph with a leading sentence for the next paragraph
These formulas are meant to guide you into the basics of writing. Your work will be matter-of-fact which is okay for school. Try that in the real world and you will be sent a Dear John letter from your potential publisher.
What type of voice do you have?
Writers have many voices, some are funny, serious and preachy, some are teachers and there are the sarcastic, stilted and even carefree. This characterizes the style of writing. Within that style, you have a voice which dictates how your words will come across to others.
Here’s another way to look at it. You can be funny but will that be relaxed funny where your voice is more conversational. Your voice can also be instructional with a few funny points thrown in. They don’t sound the same to the reader. The first is more like you are talking to a friend. The second is how you would talk in a classroom.
Learn to adapt your voice to different settings
Your voice is who you are as a writer. Whether you are asked to write a humorous piece, an editorial, a news story or a how-to article, your voice is present in each one of these styles. A writer who has found their voice will have an easier time of getting the point across in the appropriate style.
Adapting your voice comes into play more so when you are writing for others. As a writer under contract, you will provide articles in the fashion that upholds the general feel of the main publication. Within those guidelines, your voice will make your work unique.
Writers find their voice by writing. Read over a few of your pieces or, better yet, let others read them and see what they think. Pinpointing your voice is the first step in becoming comfortable within your writing life.
I'd also like to note that the internet warms up to the conversational, candid writer. Website visitors appreciate a more relaxed style and it's safe to say the search engines do as well. The more your personal your voice, the more unique your writing will be thus attracting a lot more attention and interest from both visitors and search engines.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I totally agree that the web likes a much more conversational and friendly style of writing. As a writer myself, I find that when I’m writing for the web, I can be myself a lot more, and it’s much more successful than it would be in print, for example.
My advice to budding writers out there is to imagine you are speaking to your potential market directly. What kind of voice do they want to hear? It may vary from product to product, market to market. You might imagine that if you were trying to communicate a political idea, for example, you might want to take a more authoratative tone. If you’re selling weekend trips to Amsterdam, you might want to be much more relaxed!