Discovering Your Unique Writing Voice: A Journey of Self-Expression
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Chapter 1: Understanding Writing Voice
As an aspiring author, I frequently hear from seasoned writers that identifying my writing voice is crucial for connecting with my audience. But what is this elusive voice, and how can I discover it?
To give you a glimpse into who I am, I hail from Sydney, Australia, and I'm a proud parent of three young boys, alongside my supportive husband. Our family also includes twelve chickens, two goats, and four dogs. My aspiration is to write middle-grade fiction, with themes of adventure, mystery, and space. Why share this with you? Because I believe that your background, speech patterns, and personal experiences significantly influence your writing voice. It’s a remarkable connection—your writing voice is an extension of your personality.
Finding my writing voice has been a lengthy journey. It varies depending on the type of piece I'm crafting. When I write middle-grade stories, my voice reflects that of my twelve-year-old self, blended with traits inspired by my eleven-year-old son. I draw from my childhood thoughts and my son’s ideas to shape my characters and their adventures.
Conversely, when composing articles for platforms like Medium, my writing voice mirrors my spoken language—without the awkward hesitations, of course.
The key takeaway is that your writing voice is entirely your own. No one else possesses it, which is empowering. Each time you write, whether on paper or screen, you create something truly unique—unless you’re plagiarizing, which is definitely not advisable.
Interestingly, I've realized that my writing voice is fluid and adaptable. It evolves over time. Reflecting on my childhood, I recall using words without fully grasping their meanings, leading to some amusing misunderstandings. One vivid memory is from when I was around ten; during a sports session, I noticed my teacher had grass stuck to her backside and confidently told her, “Miss, you've got grass on your bosom.” Her reaction was not what I anticipated, but I learned a valuable lesson that day: don’t confuse a bosom with a bottom.
This brings me back to my distinct writing voice and its connection to my earlier language blunders. Expanding my vocabulary has broadened my thinking and writing. There were times I overused certain words like "like," "really," and "kind of," alongside "dude," which was a fun term from my youth that I still share with old friends. These quirks, while perhaps not always beneficial in casual conversation, are integral to my writing voice. They define me, and without them, I wouldn't be who I am.
Reading as a Writer
Being a writer also requires being a reader. Reading has taught me about writing voice in ways I didn’t initially recognize. My favorite authors have inspired me to emulate their styles. As a child, I created adventure stories influenced by Enid Blyton's novels, and I was captivated by the suspense of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. Their works ignited my love for mystery.
It perplexes me when I encounter writers who claim they don’t enjoy reading. How do they learn, relax, or escape into captivating narratives? I may not have as much time to read as I wish, but I will always embrace my identity as a reader. My collection of unread books continues to grow, and while it’s frustrating, I’m equally focused on refining my own writing to complete my middle-grade novel and pursue traditional publication.
Finding Your Flow
Describing how your writing voice animates your words can be challenging. I know I'm aligned with my voice when the words effortlessly spill onto the page, and I feel completely immersed in the process. My hearing impairment surprisingly aids my concentration—I’m less distracted by noise. My partner often asks how I manage to write amid the chaos of our children, to which I simply shrug and admit I can hardly hear them.
I have a knack for zoning out. I recall one time, engrossed in a book while walking home from school, I realized I had navigated busy streets without even noticing. It’s amusing and a bit alarming in hindsight, but I was proud of my ability to lose myself in a story.
So, what is writing voice?
In essence, your writing voice is a blend of your speech, thoughts, and knowledge, all woven together into written expression. Describing it can be tricky. When I ask fellow writers at conferences about their voices, I often receive blank stares or vague responses like, “It’s hard to explain.” It’s a challenge to articulate what makes you unique. However, the journey to discover your writing voice is what truly matters. Writing freely allows you to cultivate your voice. If you're balancing work and home life like me, writing opportunities may be scarce, but ensure that when you do write, you find joy in the process. That joy is where your unique voice will emerge.
The Magic of Writing
If you haven’t yet found your writing voice, I wish you the best on this exciting journey. It promises to be a magical experience filled with discovery. What could be more exhilarating than the freedom to write? If the idea of expressing yourself on the page excites you, you’re already on the path to becoming the writer you aspire to be.
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