How To Find Your Voice

Every writer grapples at some point with a foundational question: What is my voice? It’s more than just the words you choose or the structure of your sentences. Your voice is the unique lens through which you observe, interpret, and express the world. It’s what makes your writing unmistakably yours.

If you’re feeling disconnected from your voice, or unsure if you’ve found it at all, know that it’s not something you have to invent. It’s something you uncover.

Here are a few ways to begin that process:

1. Write Frequently and Without Censorship

Finding your voice begins with consistent practice. When you write regularly and allow yourself to be unfiltered, your natural tone and rhythm start to shine through. Don’t try to sound like your favorite author or an imagined version of a “real writer.” Just write honestly and often. The more you do, the more your authentic voice will surface.

2. Pay Attention to What You Reread

Look through your past writing. What pieces do you return to or feel proud of? Notice the language, tone, pacing, and themes. Ask yourself: When does my writing feel most like me?

3. Observe Your Spoken Voice

How do you speak when you’re most comfortable? Your writing voice doesn’t have to match your speaking voice exactly, but listening to how you naturally express yourself can help you write more authentically and confidently.

4. Imitate to Discover

It may sound counterintuitive, but imitating the style of writers you admire is a helpful stepping stone. Try writing a paragraph in the voice of a favorite author. Then, rewrite it in your own words. Over time, you’ll notice which stylistic elements resonate with you—and which don’t. These experiments can help you refine your own style by contrast and comparison.

5. Experiment With Different Forms and Audiences

Try writing in various formats: personal essays, fictional monologues, journal entries, poems, or letters. Change your intended audience. Write a note to your younger self. Write as if you’re explaining something to a stranger. Each format brings out different sides of your voice.

6. Identify Recurring Themes

Writers often return, consciously or not, to the same questions, ideas, and truths. Pay attention to your patterns. Are you drawn to stories of belonging? Do you often explore memory, identity, or transformation? 

7. Stop Trying to Sound Like Anyone Else

It’s easy to internalize other voices, especially in the age of online writing, algorithms, and comparison. But your voice is most powerful when it’s honest. Don’t dilute it by trying to fit a mold. 

Final Thought:

Your voice is something you grow into. It’s found through experience, refined through practice, and strengthened through honesty. The more you write like yourself, the clearer and more confident your voice will become.