The Messy Reality of Finding my Voice and Writing Style
developing writing voice, finding your style, writing process, writer's journey, honing craft
Let's get real here - finding your unique writing voice and style is a messy, ongoing process. There's no magical moment where it all clicks into place. It's an evolution, a constant refinement as you write more and gain experience.
For me, it involved a ton of trial and error. I'd experiment with different tones and styles, sometimes feeling like I nailed it, other times cringing at what I produced. I’ve always loved writing in first-person POV, and most of my work shows that. I even wrote in the first-person as a kid, it was easier to put myself into the main characters shoes than to write in the third-person. I think this is because I see myself in so many of my characters, and it seems natural to write the stories as if they were happening to me.
There were periods where I felt like I was all over the place stylistically. One piece might be breezy and conversational, and the next might be overly formal. Developing a consistent voice was like herding cats. Developing different voices and styles for each character is especially hard. I don’t want everyone to sound the same, so the only way to show that difference is through the stylization of their speech. This is fun to play around with, but it’s also difficult to get right.
I’m still trying to figure out my writing style and voice. Even now, I’m experimenting with writing in the third person. It’s challenging, but it’s a welcomed challenge.
Each writing session, each attempt to capture a certain mood or perspective, slowly honed my skills. My voice emerged gradually through the practice of putting words on the page again and again.
Even now, years into my writing journey, my style continues to evolve. New influences, subjects, and phases of life all leave their mark on how I express myself. The key is to embrace the mess, lean into it, and trust that your unique voice will keep taking shape through the process.
