Finding your writing voice can feel tricky—you’ve probably stared at a blank screen, wondering how to sound more like yourself and less like everyone else. Totally understandable! We’ve all been there.
You’re in luck though, because I’m about to share super practical tips that can help unlock your natural writing style, making your words flow easier and feel more like you.
Here’s what we’ll cover to help your true writing voice shine.
Key Takeaways
- Write how you’d naturally speak to friends to find your authentic style.
- Write often, even for short periods, to help your real voice emerge naturally.
- Don’t edit as you write; let your ideas flow first, then polish later.
- Reading your work aloud helps you spot awkward phrasing or unnatural sentences.
- Notice what you enjoy in other writers’ styles and adapt those elements for yourself.
- Request feedback from people you trust specifically about how your voice comes through.
- Imagine writing to one specific person to make your writing more relatable and genuine.
- Try new writing styles and genres to discover interesting sides of how you express yourself.
- Stay truthful in your writing—being genuine attracts readers who resonate with you.
- Be patient and keep practicing; your unique voice strengthens gradually with time.
Write the Way You Talk
Writing voice is the unique way a writer expresses their thoughts, personality, and emotions through their words. It’s the signature that makes your writing feel genuinely yours. One simple, effective way to develop yours is to write the same way you talk to your friends.
Forget overly formal sentences and complex language. Stick with everyday words you’d actually use while chatting with someone who knows you well. If a phrase feels unnatural, it probably is.
Try dictating your writing the next time you sit down to write something. Record yourself talking about your topic, and then transcribe the recording word-for-word—without editing. You’ll notice how conversational and authentic your voice becomes when you’re simply speaking instead of aiming for perfection.
This isn’t just advice—it’s proven to make content more engaging for readers. The American Society of Journalists and Authors emphasizes that self-expression and authenticity are crucial components of finding your writing style. When readers sense your personality behind your words, they trust and connect with you much faster.
Practice Writing Consistently
Like building any skill, getting better at writing and finding your unique style requires regular practice. The more frequently you write, the easier expressing your distinctive thoughts and personality becomes.
Set a schedule for consistent writing sessions every day, even if just for 15-20 minutes. Whether you’re journaling, working on a short story, creating funny writing prompts for kids, or crafting a detailed article—getting into a routine keeps your creative muscles flexible and your voice unmistakable.
If you’re struggling to find inspiration, experiment with winter-themed writing prompts. These can encourage you onto new topics and give you a change of pace, keeping your practice fresh and engaging.
Siege Media reported a significant predicted growth in AI-assisted content creation by 2025, meaning now is also an important moment to assert your authentic writing voice. Regular practice makes sure that, even with growing AI influences, your human touch and originality shine through.
Write Without Editing First
Sometimes the biggest barrier to writing naturally is your inner editor. Obsessively correcting grammar, restructuring sentences, or picking apart your writing after every paragraph can stifle your true personality on the page.
Next time you start writing, try this: let yourself type quickly, freely, and without hitting the backspace key. Ignore typos and awkward sentences at first; your goal is to pour your thoughts onto the page without hesitation.
This approach, often referred to as a ‘rough draft’ or ‘free writing,’ encourages authenticity. Your personality, quirks, and feelings get down on paper faster, before perfectionism waters down the words.
Afterwards—but only afterwards—come back and tidy up your text. Editing at this stage becomes easier because your genuine voice is already there; you’re not starting from scratch. It’s just a matter of polishing and fine-tuning your personality into something even better.
Don’t worry if you find editing challenging at first; it takes practice. If you’re new to editing your work, you might find comparing proofreading tools helpful; here’s a detailed breakdown of AutoCrit vs ProWritingAid that’s worth checking out.
Read Your Writing Out Loud
If you’re wondering why your writing sometimes sounds stiff or unnatural, try reading it out loud.
Hearing yourself speak your own words can quickly highlight sentences that sound weird or awkward.
As you read, pay attention to spots where you trip over the words; that’s a hint you need to rewrite that sentence.
You can even record yourself reading and play it back later to catch anything you’ve missed.
This technique is super helpful in making your writing smooth, natural, and conversational—exactly how real people talk.
If your sentences make you run out of breath, they’re probably too long—time to break them up!
Identify Writers You Like and Understand Why
One effective strategy for developing your own voice is to notice the writing voices you already appreciate.
Start by listing out authors and blogs whose writing you genuinely enjoy.
Then, pinpoint exactly why you’re drawn to their work—funny phrases, clear explanations, relatable examples?
Once you find specific aspects you like, try incorporating some of those elements (without purely copying, of course!) into your writing.
For example, if you enjoy humorous writing aimed at younger readers, you’ll probably benefit from trying some funny writing prompts for kids now and then.
The idea isn’t to mimic another person’s voice exactly, but to borrow cool bits and pieces to build something unique to you.
Ask Others for Feedback on Your Writing Style
Asking for feedback can feel a bit scary, but it’s one of the best ways to understand how your writing voice resonates with others.
Find a few trusted friends, colleagues, or fellow writers willing to give honest, constructive comments.
Be sure to specify that you want insights on your voice and not just grammar help.
Ask if your personality shines through, if you sound genuine, and if they’d recognize your writing from someone else’s.
If you’re wondering how to get beta readers, learning how beta readers give helpful feedback can also give you a clearer idea about asking for actionable critiques on your writing style.
Don’t take feedback personally; use it to tweak and strengthen your voice further.
Write for a Specific Person
Ever find yourself stuck because you’re trying too hard to write to “everyone?”
Instead, pick one specific person—maybe a friend, your cousin, or a coworker—and write as if you’re speaking directly to them.
This keeps your writing focused, relatable, and more conversational.
You’re naturally more yourself when talking to just one person, rather than a faceless audience.
Also, try visualizing them reading your words—it gives your sentences a clearer purpose and personality.
Try Writing in Different Styles and Genres
Your writing voice might feel right in one style but awkward in another, so don’t hesitate to test out new forms and genres.
If you usually write essays, switch things up and try writing dialogue or poetry.
Fans of fiction might try writing nonfiction pieces or experimenting with different story types like mysteries or romance.
For example, working with horror story plot ideas or dystopian tales can reveal unexpected sides of your voice you didn’t even know were there.
Through this kind of experimentation, you’ll start noticing what practice helps your voice feel natural and what feels unnatural.
Stay Honest and Be Yourself in Your Writing
This might sound obvious, but the easiest way to develop your unique voice is to genuinely be yourself.
Trying to sound smarter, funnier, or more sophisticated than you really are typically falls flat.
Don’t pretend you’re someone else or exaggerate stories; readers often sense dishonesty instantly.
Instead, lean into your authentic experiences, true thoughts, and genuine opinions.
Your honest personality on the page will naturally attract readers who relate and appreciate your unique perspective.
Keep Practicing and Be Patient
Finding your writing voice doesn’t happen overnight.
Consistent practice is key, and it’s normal to go through periods of feeling like you haven’t found your voice yet—don’t let that discourage you.
Understand that writing frequently, experimenting with styles, and getting regular feedback eventually lead you toward clarity.
Even established authors continuously tweak and discover new facets of their writing voice.
Stick with it, stay patient, and keep showing up—your unique writing style is there and will only strengthen over time.
FAQs
Use everyday language and short sentences, write as if you were speaking to a friend. Keep your writing approachable by reading it aloud, focusing on clarity, and skipping overly formal words or jargon that you wouldn’t normally say.
Reading your writing aloud helps to catch awkward phrasing, repetitions, and mistakes you might overlook while silently reading. It allows you to hear your natural rhythm and ensures your text flows smoothly for readers.
Practice writing regularly, experiment with different styles and genres, and notice authors whose writing catches your attention. Be authentic and allow your personality to show in your writing rather than trying to sound like someone else.
No, avoid editing while you’re initially writing. First, complete a full draft freely without stopping. Once finished, take a short break before you start editing carefully. Separating writing and editing makes your ideas clearer and your edits sharper.
