Giving voice to your writing

So many writers — I’m including myself, because I’m far from perfect in this craft — are inspired by an established author, living or dead, who they then mimic in tone and style. However, the key to true success in this creative field is the craft of creating something absolutely distinct. Something that is all yours, whether you’re a corporate writer or a blogger or a haiku enthusiast.

It all comes down to your writing voice. Do you speak through your words, or are your words trying to model the style of your literary heroes? In this age of self-publishing and the glut of manuscripts that spill through Amazon.com’s virtual shelves, it’s more necessary than ever to stand out with something that’s unique and unlike anything else on the market.

You can’t create an outward production without understanding who you are on the inside. Your writing style and tone is informed by so many things, including your political views, social standing, childhood, faith journey, world view and personal passions.

Look at John Steinbeck, whose work truly carried authenticity only when he began to draw from his memories of California and  the historical conditions of America’s working class. Or consider Mark Twain, who loved to use humour and colloquial conversations to transport social criticism.

Let the words you write carry a bit of your soul in them. Know yourself, and let that show in your writing. In this, your writing becomes more confident, more convincing and more gripping. I can guarantee you that there’s no original narrative in the world, unless you infuse it with you. A writer who refuses to look within and who fails at introspection will similarly fail at creating true art.