Michael A. Ventrella

One of the most important things a writer has to do is find their voice. That’s what’s going to make your work stand out among all the other writers out there.

I remember when I was a freshman in college, taking an English course, and submitted a story I had written for an assignment. “Hm,” the professor said, glaring at me over her glasses, “I see you’ve been reading a lot of Kurt Vonnegut lately.”

Hey, I was young, but her comments did hit me. I was copying someone else’s voice in my story—a very identifiable voice at that. I hadn’t yet found my own voice—my own unique way to tell a story.

So it goes.

That’s what really makes the best fiction enjoyable. It’s the person telling it that makes the difference; it’s why two people could witness the same event and one could relay it to you in a way that captures your attention and another puts you to sleep. It’s why two people could tell the same joke and one gets tremendous laughter and the other silence.

That only comes with practice with your own personality showing through, and I’m not sure if that is a skill that can be taught. But you need to keep that in the back of your mind as you write. If you’re trying to copy someone else’s style, you’ll fail and readers will realize it.

Your voice is a combination of your experience, your word choices, your way of looking at the world, your sense of humor or tragedy … it’s you. It’s what makes you unique, and that should come across in your writing.

So how do you find your own voice? One technique I’ve heard used is to literally try to copy someone else’s work. After a while, you get sick of it and you’ll find that your own voice will try to take over, and that’s a good thing. I’m not sure if that would work for everyone, but if that’s what it takes to break your real voice out, more power to you.

Honestly, I think the only real way to is to just write write write (as I’ve been saying all along on this blog) and eventually your natural voice will come out, as the words flow. Find a way to make your work read like you and only you.

I interviewed Nancy Springer a while ago, and she made a comment I think is very relevant. (In case you don’t recognize the name, she’s the author of many successful books, and her “Enola Holmes” series was made into films.) She said, “Students are usually anxious to ‘find their voice.’ I tell them that voice is just personality on paper. I tell them to let their personality flow out of their head, down their arms, and out through their fingers, onto the paper – or, I guess, the keypad? Anyway, some are able to do this, so they could become terrific writers, right? Nope. Sometimes students who have really and truly found their voice are just plain dull, because that’s the way they are, personally. But if a writer doesn’t find their voice, then how can readers relate? So, no, I don’t think everyone can become a good writer.”

I am not sure how to fix the problem of some people just being “dull”—but if you think that is your problem, shake it up. Do something unusual. Break your preconceived notions, have your characters do outrageous things, pretend you are possessed and write like you never would have before, and maybe the final result will surprise you and your inner voice will shine through.

Filed under: writing | Tagged: books, creative-writing, finding your voice, writing, writing advice, writing-tips |