Finding Your Writing Voice: Write Like You, Not Like Them
- Deborah Ann Martin
- Jun 19
- 6 min read
Writing isn’t just about putting words on a page—it’s about expressing who you are. Your voice is the heartbeat of your writing. It’s the way your words sound, how your ideas unfold, and the energy behind your message.
But for a lot of writers—especially new ones—figuring out your “writing voice” feels like a mystery. You might wonder:
Am I doing this right?
Should I sound more professional?
Why doesn’t my writing feel like me?
Here’s the truth: you already have a voice. The journey is about finding it, trusting it, and learning how to use it with confidence.
What Is a Writing Voice?
Your writing voice is the natural way you express yourself in words. It includes your:
Tone – Are you warm and encouraging, sarcastic and witty, or serious and informative?
Vocabulary – Do you use everyday words or love unique phrases and vivid language?
Rhythm – Do your sentences flow like a conversation, or do they dance across the page like poetry?
Personality – Your quirks, your wisdom, your humor, your perspective.
Imagine reading a post and knowing instantly who wrote it. That’s a voice. If Steven King or Nora Roberts wrote something anonymously, you’d still probably guess it was them. Their voice is that distinct—and yours can be, too.
Why Finding Your Writing Voice Matters
You don’t have to be famous for your words to matter. In fact, some of the most meaningful writing happens in journals, in private letters, or a shared moment with a friend. Your voice makes your writing:
Memorable – People remember how your words made them feel.
Relatable – Readers connect with realness more than perfection.
Authentic – Trust is built when your writing sounds like you.
Think about it—have you ever read something and thought, “I needed to hear that”? Chances are, the writer was being real, not perfect.
To be honest, I haven't blogged before. I don't know what my voice is yet. I am still discovering it. I have a passion for wanting people to write. In an age where AI can write a better story then most people, then it's important to have the real and authenic voices.
Disclaimer: I am not saying not to use AI. Blogging takes time, but ChatGPT will put this into a pretty format, check my spelling, and my grammar. ChatGPT finds different writing tools that match what I am writing about and gives me all the metadata to go into the blog, so I don't have to take the time to figure that out, so Google can find this blog. That allows me more time to write.
What Gets in the Way of Finding It?
Many writers lose their voice because of outside pressure or fear. Let’s break down the most common blocks:
1. Trying to Sound “Professional”
If you’ve ever deleted a sentence because it sounded “too casual,” you’re not alone. We’re often taught that good writing means formal writing. But some of the most engaging writers sound like they’re speaking directly to you—because they are. Professional doesn’t have to mean robotic.
Example:
Instead of: “It is important to reflect daily in order to maintain emotional balance.”
Try: “Checking in with myself every day helps me stay grounded.”
Same idea. One feels human.
2. Copying Other Writers
It’s great to study authors you admire. But be careful not to mimic their voice so closely that you lose your own. Just because someone writes poetic metaphors doesn’t mean you have to. Some writers are direct. Some are lyrical. Some are hilarious. All are valuable.
Example: You may love Amanda Gorman’s poetry, but your style might lean more toward raw journal-style storytelling. That’s not less powerful—it’s just yours.
3. Fear of Judgment
This might be the biggest block of all. When we’re afraid of being judged, we start editing ourselves before we’ve even written. That fear can dilute our voice.
Tip: Write a messy first draft like no one will read it. Then revise if you choose to share. Voice develops in freedom, not fear.
How to Find Your Voice
Your voice isn’t something you create—it’s something you reveal. Here are some ways to uncover it:
• Write Like You Talk
Try reading your writing out loud. Does it sound like you? If not, relax your tone. Use contractions (“I’m” instead of “I am”) and phrases you’d say naturally. If you wouldn’t say, “Thus, it is apparent,” don’t write it.
Try this: Tell a story aloud, record yourself, and then type what you said. That’s your voice.
• Use Your Life
Pull in real moments—funny, painful, ordinary. Your voice lives in your memories. The way you describe your grandma’s kitchen, the way you rant about traffic, the joy of your favorite childhood snack—those details are gold.
• Look at Old Writing
Scroll through old texts, social media captions, or notes. Notice your tone when you’re being honest or fired up. That tone? That’s your voice. Now bring that into your stories, poems, or blog posts.
• Try Writing in Different Styles
Experiment. Write a poem. Journal your thoughts. Tell a fictional story. One style might unlock your voice more than another.
Example: You might think you’re a journal writer but discover your voice shines in short narrative fiction with a strong first-person tone.
• Ask Someone You Trust
What do people say about how you talk or write? Are you known for humor? Encouragement? Depth? Ask someone who loves you: “What does my writing feel like?” Their insight might surprise you—and help you lean into your true style.
Voice vs. Style vs. Tone: What’s the Difference?
These three often overlap, but they aren’t the same:
Voice is your consistent personality as a writer. It's YOU, no matter what you’re writing.
Style is your technique—how you use punctuation, paragraph structure, or sensory detail.
Tone is the mood or emotion in a specific piece, like hopeful, angry, reflective.
Example: You might have a warm, encouraging voice with a descriptive style. But the tone of one post might be gentle and another more passionate.
What If My Voice Isn’t “Good Enough”?
This is where many people freeze. They think:
“My voice is boring.”
“No one talks like this.”
“I’m not clever or deep.”
Stop right there. There’s no such thing as a bad voice—only an undeveloped one.
Every voice matters:
The quiet journaler
The funny friend
The poetic heart
The analytical thinker
They all have space in the writing world. You don’t need to change your voice. You need to trust it!
The Prompt Corner
The Prompt Corner is a special place to encourage writing. Whether you’re new or experienced, prompts help you dig deeper. Try one or all five and see what sparks.
Here are five prompts to help you find and embrace your writing voice:
Tell a story like you're talking to your best friend. Don’t edit. Let your real tone shine.
Write a short piece using your favorite three words. See how they shape the tone.
Write something you believe in strongly. Don’t hold back. Let your passion come through.
Write a paragraph that starts with “Here’s the thing…” Speak directly and clearly.
Describe yourself in five lines. Then rewrite it in a way that only you would say it.
Voice grows with practice. The more you use it, the clearer it becomes.
Free & Paid Tools to Support Your Writing
Each week, we suggest writing tools to help you grow. Explore these to see which ones match your voice and writing style.
Hemingway App – Highlights long or complex sentences so your voice comes through clearly.
Grammarly – Offers tone suggestions, not just grammar fixes.
750 Words – Daily private writing helps you develop your voice through repetition.
Notion – Use it as a digital notebook for raw drafts, freewriting, and voice exercises.
Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to use them, it helps support our website at no extra cost to you. Want more tools? Check out the full list in the Resources tab of our site.
Want more tools? Check out the full list of writing resources on the resource page on our website.
Write with Us: Because No One Can Write Like You
There’s no voice like yours. You don’t need to write the way someone else does. The world needs your honesty, your insight, your way with words. That might be serious or funny. Wordy or brief. But it’s yours, and that makes it powerful.
Come grow with us. Our Groups are built on encouragement, curiosity, and authenticity. We’d love to hear your voice there, too.
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