What do you think when you read your own work?
Do you wonder whether your writing sounds like you?
Would you like to have a stronger voice, just like your favorite writers?
Finding our voice is perhaps one of the most frustrating challenges we face as writers.
A strong voice helps us stand out in a sea of same-same writing, and it helps us bond with our readers, enticing them to come back to “hear” our voice again.
But how?
You may think, you’re born with a voice inside you.
And you only have to discover it.
But this is far from the truth.
Your writing voice develops over time, and you can accelerate that process by following the 4 steps outlined below …
Step 1: Decide who you’re writing for
When you write a personal letter or email, do you think of the person you’re writing to?
Perhaps, you ask how they are, what their plans are for the weekend, and you might tell them off or make a joke about something that happened the other week. Your writing feels human and real.
When writing a sales page or blog post, do you also think of the person who’s reading your text? Or do you forget who’s reading you?
As Kurt Vonnegut said: “Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.”
Finding your voice starts with knowing who you’re writing for. For instance, you can imagine the kind of person Man Crates is writing for when you read their product description for bacon jerky:
Example of a strong voice #1: Man Crates
Ready to have your mind blown? What if we told you bacon doesn’t have to just be a staple at breakfast and on your sandwich?
Bacon can be a portable, dangerously habit forming companion at your fingertips, 24/7.
You might start hoarding and stashing. You might tape packs of Bacon Jerky below the conference room table, sew pockets into the inner lining of your long johns, and fill the side panels of your car with bacon jerky in case you ever break down.
I picture a macho bacon-lover who seeks the thrills of danger. After all the text suggests that bacon can be a portable, dangerously habit forming companion.
In contrast, J. Peterman’s copy for a shaving brush exudes an understated sense of style:
Example of a strong voice #2: J. Peterman
I was browsing in a Paris antique shop one winter afternoon when a fitted leather train case caught my eye.
It contained silver-handled brushes, boot hooks, a straight razor, several silver-stoppered glass bottles.
One bottle was different. Encased in yew-wood, with a handwritten date: 1903.
Inside the bottle, there was still the faint aroma of a gentleman’s cologne. Custom-made for a rich traveler a century ago.
(…)
Women like the way it smells on a man. Like a symphony that begins loudly, then soon slides into subtle, entangling developments that grow on them.
Or so I’ve been told.
Who do you think that text resonates with most? Who do you imagine will buy that shaving brush?
The difference in writing voice between J. Peterman’s and Man Crates’ copy lies in the words chosen and the imagery sketched:
- J. Peterman writes about the faint aroma of a gentleman’s cologne and the symphony that beings loudly then slides into subtle, entangling developments.
- Man Creates writes about having your mind blown and filling the side panels of your car with bacon jerky.
Different words. Different imagery.
That difference isn’t a creative trick. That difference exists because their writers know who they’re writing for.
Tip on finding your voice:
Start writing by imagining your reader—preferably someone you like and who cheers you on. When you write for that reader, your writing becomes more human, more real.
Step 2. Make your voice stronger
We’ve all listened to speakers with a weak voice.
They ramble on.
They speak in generic terms. They use meaningless words. Their messages remain wishy-washy, and their ideas are buried under wordy sludge.
A strong voice starts with clarity of thought. When you know what you want to communicate, you can present your ideas clearly. Without frills. Without blabbering.
For instance, Apple’s copy mostly communicates clear messages. The following snippet is from the iPhone 13 Pro sales page:
Example of a strong voice #3: Apple
With its redesigned lens and powerful autofocus system, the new Ultra Wide camera can focus at just 2cm—making even the smallest details seem epic. Transform a leaf into abstract art. Capture a caterpillar’s fuzz. Magnify a dewdrop. The beauty of tiny awaits.
The copy above is strong because the message is clear and the copy is specific, vivid, and concise:
- The feature mentioned is specific: the Ultra Wide camera can focus at just 2cm.
- Vivid imagery explains the benefit—e.g., transforming a leaf into abstract art.
- Each word matters.
Mark Manson’s writing voice is completely different but his messages are clear, too. For instance, the following is a paragraph from a post by him titled Screw Finding Your Passion:
Example of a strong voice #4: Mark Manson
The common complaint among a lot of these people is that they need to “find their passion.”
I call bullshit. You already found your passion, you’re just ignoring it. Seriously, you’re awake 16 hours a day, what the fuck do you do with your time? You’re doing something, obviously. You’re talking about something. There’s some topic or activity or idea that dominates a significant amount of your free time, your conversations, your web browsing, and it dominates them without you consciously pursuing it or looking for it.
It’s right there in front of you, you’re just avoiding it. For whatever reason, you’re avoiding it. You’re telling yourself, “Oh well, yeah, I love comic books but that doesn’t count. You can’t make money with comic books.”
Fuck you, have you even tried?
There’s no doubting what Manson is trying to tell us, eh?
Manson’s voice is completely different from Apple’s copy. He uses a lot of swear words. He engages the reader in a conversation, and he shares a strong opinion: I call bullshit. But just like Apple’s copywriters, he shares a clear message: Stop that search for your passion.
Tip for strenghtening your voice:
When you communicate one clear message, your voice feels stronger. So, pinpoint your message, cut away the fluff, and let your message shine more brightly.
Step 3. Lean on your values
A strong voice is more than a writing style.
A writing style is about how you communicate. A voice is what you communicate, too.
And what you communicate is both your message and your values.
For instance, when you read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass, you get a sense of her love and respect for nature:
Example of a strong voice #5: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hold out your hands and let me lay upon them a sheaf of freshly picked sweetgrass, loose and flowing, like newly washed hair. Golden green and glossy above, the stems are banded with purple and white where they meet the ground. Hold the bundle up to your nose. Find the fragrance of honeyed vanilla over the scent of river water and black earth and you understand its scientific name: Hierochloe odorata, meaning the fragrant, holy grass. In our language it is called wiingaashk, the sweet-smelling hair of Mother Earth. Breathe it in and you start to remember things you didn’t know you’d forgotten.
Wall Kimmerer can only write a paragraph like that because she pays attention to nature, and she lets nature be her teacher—nature inspires her way of writing and living:
A voice isn’t just a layer of paint, giving a shiny, polished impression to your readers. Your voice is who you are and what you’re paying attention to.
Tip on finding your voice:
To find your voice, notice when you feel most alive, and pay attention to what sparks your creativity and what makes your heart sing. Allow yourself to discover what matters to you.
Step 4. Pay attention to your favorite writers
The last step to finding your voice is to emulate writers whose work resonates most with you.
You can accelerate this process by reading more of what you like, and by paying attention to the style elements that help define your writing voice:
1. Word choice
In the examples above, Mark Manson’s strong words contrast with the sensory words that Robin Wall Kimmerer uses. The words you choose give an impression of your personality.
How word choice influences your voice (with examples) >>
2. Use of imagery
Reading Wall Kimmerer’s writing above, you can almost smell the sweetgrass. And when reading the text from Man Crates, you can picture someone stuffing the side panels in their car with bacon jerky. What imagery you choose and what sensory language you use shape your voice.
Abstract vs concrete language: Examples >>
3. Point of view
Mark Mason’s writing feels like a conversation with a reader, and J. Peterman is present in the stories told. Whether you write in the first person (I, me) or the third person (he, she, they), and how you address readers with the word you influence your writing voice.
4. The rhythm in your writing
The sentences in Apple’s copy are mostly short, and often broken. They even use one-word sentences (like: Zoom? Boom!), and use word repetition a lot (like: Shoot it. Cut it. Ship it.) This creates a recognizable rhythm and helps define their voice.
(…) you can’t find your own voice if you aren’t listening for it. The sound of your writing is an essential part of what it’s doing.
~ Ursula K. Le Guin
5. Creative writing techniques
Techniques such as rhyme, contrast, and word repetition can make your writing swing like a flamboyant tango dancer or swirl like an elegant ballerina.
They’re great for experimentation and having fun when writing but be careful that these techniques don’t become an obstacle to clear communication.
Tip on finding your voice:
When reading the work of your favorite authors, pay attention to their word choice, the imagery, the rhythm, and their use of creative writing techniques. Do they address you directly as a reader? Do they tell stories about themselves or only about other people?
When you learn to appreciate the writing style of others, it becomes easier to develop your own style, too.
How to find your voice
As we’ve seen there are 4 steps that will help you find your voice:
- Write as if you’re writing for your favorite reader only
- Define the message of each piece of writing and communicate your message clearly
- Pay attention to what matters to you and let your values guide you
- Emulate the style of writers you admire
While many writers feel tempted to focus on step 4, the most important steps are those above it. Step 4 is the cherry on the cake. The cherry looks good but it can’t make a stale cake taste good.
Keep writing
My most important advice is perhaps this …
Keep writing, my friend.
And enjoy your writing.
You can’t find your voice if you don’t use it.
When you write more, you learn what matters to you and what resonates with your audience.
So, keep showing up.
And keep being you.
PS
Thank you to Paul Couchman, The Regent Cook, for inspiring me to write this post.
Recommended reading on finding your voice:
How word choice shapes your voice
How to make your words swing and swirl
How punctuation shapes your voice
Wow, whenever I read your newsletter, I feel like I just had a lecture. Very structured and insightful and it’s is prompting me to go and write! Thank you.
Ohh, that’s so lovely. It warms my heart that you feel inspired to write. Thank you so much for letting me know.
Hey Henneke,
Thanks for your regular reminder that even though writing is by definition creative, it’s always possible to be more creative, more eloquent, more inspiring and entertaining.
I hardly get around to reading actual books, but I spend plenty of time reading every day, and if I think hard enough I can find writers whose style I love.
Merry Christmas for now!
Yes, so true: Our writing can always be more creative, more eloquent, or more inspiring. And it’s fun to try and do this.
Merry Christmas to you, too!
Queen Henneke, you’re an institution. I’ve always loved how you blend knowledge with creativity without formulaic advice. It doesn’t matter if it’s something new or a post from ten years ago.
Happy Holidays,
Dom
Awww, thank you, Dom. You’re making me blush!
Happy holidays to you, too.
Oh, my! This article was so impactful!
The rabbit trails are fascinating as well.
In addition to the 4 styles, one in a sidebar really got me:
“a cherry on top can’t hide a stale cake.”
Wonder who wrote that?:)
You are absolutely the best
Thank you so much, Janet. That’s a lovely compliment. Happy writing!
Wonderful advise Henneke. Thanks a million.
You’re most welcome. Happy writing, Barry!
Bravo. Thank you for these fantastic reminders. Especially to keep showing up. Keep writing. ❤️
Thank you, Kelly. Happy writing! ♥️
Terrific tips! Loads to think about. I come from a technical Project Management background, now looking to switch lanes. I have some ideas on a blog and this article will be a massive help in the process.
Thank you, Len. I’m glad you enjoyed this. I also did a lot of project management before starting my writing career.
Thanks, for those writing tips. They are both interesting and informative.
Rupert.
Thank you, Rupert. Happy writing!
Hey Henneke,
Love the points and as you said already following the writing of my favourite writer – you. However, the first point made me think.
I’m going to launch a blog, soon. But, always stumbling upon one point. How to find your ideal audience? And your first point today also said that you need to write like you are writing for your favourite reader. And I heard this a few times in your previous articles.
So, my question as a budding blogger and writer, how do you know which mass you should target even before starting your blog? Is it possible?
Would love to hear your answer!
Thank you.
Barsha
Hi Barsha,
Some people know exactly who they want to write for, others figure it out along the way. I started with an ideal reader in mind but changed within one year of starting my blog.
Your ideal reader can also be your younger self or an imaginary person—perhaps a amalgamation of several people in one.
The key thing is always to get started. So, if you’re unsure, start writing for someone, perhaps someone you know or your younger self, and then see how it goes.
Hey Henneke,
Writing for my younger self… I think this could work well. And I agree starting is important.
Soon… I will share my progress after publishing my first few new articles.
Thank you and happy Monday! 😊
Barsha
Hi Henneke,
I really enjoyed reading this article. I am a writer as well, and I am benefiting greatly from all your resources. I love how you share your journey, it really inspires me, and is one of the reasons why I visit your blog to read your articles. I loved this article, and I followed a similar process to find my voice before setting up my blog. But I think I have lost it over the years, or it has faded somehow. Is it even making sense? Let me know if you have experienced something like this, or if you have any tips for this.
I’m wondering what style of writing your mostly reading.
Our writing is much influenced by what we read. So, if you’ve been reading a lot of books or blog posts that lack personality, then that may influence your writing style over time.
If you feel lost, try to read something else, pay attention to the writers that most resonate with you. How are they writing? Which of their techniques can you emulate?
I’m trying to keep my reading diet varied. For instance, I read a lot of fiction and memoirs because it often resonates more strongly with me than a lot of business writing.
Hey Henneke,
Thanks for these tips, whenever I read my articles I feel this is not me but your article is really helpful. I will follow these rules to find my writing voice.
Thanks again and keep inspiring.
Keep writing and your voice will start shining through, Yogesh. Happy writing!
Hey Henneke,
Thank you for sharing this nice post. I love reading this article. You said it right that finding our voice is one of the most frustrating challenges we face as writers. And a strong voice helps us stand out in a sea of same writing and it help us bond with readers, enticing them to come back to hear our voice again.
I am really glad to say that all the steps mentioned by you for finding voice as a writer is impressive and helpful. You can develop your writing voice over time by accelerating these steps. I genuinely appreciate your efforts.
Keep up the good work!!
Thanks,
Ruhee
I’m glad you found this helpful, Ruhee. Thank you for stopping by. Happy writing!
It’s no wonder you’re such a successful blogger! I love reading your posts because your voice, like the ones you use as examples here, is so clear and lovely that I feel like you’re the kind of person I could talk with for hours. You’re so cool.
Awww. What a lovely compliment. Thank you, Olivia.
would love to see more content from you.
I have read so many blog posts, but nothing even comes close to this ! Thoroughly enjoyed the writing ! This one post is better than most creative writing classes !
Being a bacon lover, that example struck me the most. Of course, being an engineer, Apple’s example came a close second.
I have learnt to write more effectively just from this one post; will certainly put into practice !
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Raj. Thank you for your compliment. Happy writing!
Certain writers have a voice that can’t be duplicated. Bestsellers, like the works of Stephen King, Toni Morrison, and Ernest Hemingway, are often characterized by a unique way of writing—both in terms of narrative and character voice.
Finding your voice is the key to getting dedicated followers and fans and that it’s the only sustainable way to write. If you’re not being yourself, you’ll eventually burn out.
Once you’ve found your voice, make sure you continue to develop it. It’s a discipline, one that can’t be overlooked if you’re going to have the impact you desire and that your words deserve.
I’m not sure that finding your voice is the only sustainable way to write. It really depends on what you’re writing and what your goal is. If you write for a brand, you’ll have to keep in line with their brand guidelines for tone and voice so that no matter which copywriter writes a product description, they all sound like they come from the same brand. And if you’re a freelance writer, you may need to adapt your voice depending on what client you’re working for. That can be done.
I do think that it’s true if you’re writing to promote your own business, then it’s good to find your voice, stay true to your values, and show up in your work because that way you’ll find the audience that resonates best with you.
Your voice is your most valuable possession. It’s the one thing you can’t find if it isn’t being used… thanks I am continue improving writing
Yes, so true. A voice is precious.
Thank you Henneke. Well said. The world of voice and words is such a fascinating place.
Best wishes to you and your family.
So true. The world of voice and words seems to keep fascinating me, too. Thank you for stopping by again!
This is wonderful and let me pick this advice: Keep writing, my friend, And keep being you.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Aziz!
I thought I recognized this post! It was great, all over again, and I needed it all over again. 🙂
I think voice, for me, includes mostly a searching for a person’s heart. Reaching into a soul and igniting a fragile remainder of courage, to cause conquering to flow like a waterfall into the reader’s life.
Something like that, but WHAT a mixed metaphor! Ha!
Yes, when you write from the heart, then the real magic happens. I agree. Readers can sense that spark.
Thank you, Henneke, for your wonderful inspiring article. It is very useful, as usual.
I have two questions.
First one. You writes: “Start writing by imagining your reader—preferably someone you like and who cheers you on”. Do I have to change my reader according the type of article, or does my reader have to be the same for all my posts? I am a bit disoriented and unsure if I have to change my reader. I profiled three ideal readers for my blog (that is growing well), but I do not like the idea to have three different readers. I feel as I should have three women to love: I prefer to love just one, a lot.
Second question. I surely want to write to a reader that I like (a female ideal reader). But which one? That reader I want and need to seduce and “perhaps” loves me, or one that I am sure she likes me and is eager to read my article?
Hi Maurizio, Good to see you again!
It’s usually much easier when you write a blog for one ideal reader. If you have multiple ideal readers, then the question is whether they all deal with the same problems, have the same aims, and use the same language to describe their problems and aims. If their aims/problems/language are the same or at least similar, then you can probably merge the three profiles and create one ideal reader. If they’re different and you want to write for all of them, then you probably have to segment your email list (so people receive only the blog posts that match their needs) and categorize your blog posts in such a way that people can easily find the blog posts that are helpful to them. That’s a lot of extra work compared to writing for one ideal reader.
Writing is often a challenge and most of us writers are full of doubts. This is why I suggest picking an ideal reader who’s supportive. If your ideal reader is a highly critical person, it may increase self-doubts and make the writing process more challenging. You want to feel like someone is at a minimum welcoming your writing and hopefully eagerly anticipating your next blog post. There doesn’t need to be love but appreciation for your writing helps. I like to think of my ideal reader as a kind person because it helps me get into my writing zone.
Does that help?
Thank you, Henneke. It helps a lot.
I decided to have one ideal reader, because I see that my three profile are different (age, gender, job), but they have common aims/problems/language.
Thanks for your advice about who to choose the profile of my ideal reader. I agree: if we write to a kind person who appreciate us and what we try to do, we can better express ourselves 🙂
Great. Happy writing!
By the way, there’s room to “play.” For instance, when I get asked a question and answer it in a blog post, I often write for the person who asked me the question (especially if I know them). That works because my ideal reader could have asked that same question.
Thank you so much for such detailed tips. I’ve always struggled to express myself in a proper way, so I feel like your insights have been really helpful.
Your recommendations have been eye-opening 🙂
Expressing ourselves IS hard. It still feels as a struggle to me sometimes but I’ve just accepted that that struggle is part of the process.
I’m glad you’re enjoying my tips, Paula. Thank you for letting me know.
You always have such valuable insight, backed up with really good examples. You make me want to write more. You give me the confidence to write. Thank you Henneke.
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, Andrea. Happy writing!
OMG, what an awesome post! The power and clarity of the writing examples throughout is amazing. Not only for writing but improving spoken messages as well. I’m feeling inspired again! ❤️
Thank you, Kathy. I had more examples I wanted to use but the post became a bit too long, so I cut them out. Happy writing!
Thanks you for another useful gem of a post.
Cool book I’m reading right now made me think of you. It dovetails perfectly with your message today in a lot of ways.
“The truth is that our ears do work perfectly well underwater. you had just heard the voice of the sea, and its very first story-a story that is a blend of all of it’s stories at once.”
“Multiple voices blend together like shredded vegetables in a stew.”
The author, Bill Francois, talks about cool stuff he’s passionate about. Sparked by summers spent playing on the seashore.
But as far as individuals communicating. He even talks about a species of whale that has been identified by it’s voice. Even though it’s actually never been seen!
Pretty powerful stuff if you ask me.
“Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea.”-Bill Francois
Thanks again, I hope this message finds you well.
That book sounds fascinating! I just checked out the full description on Amazon and added it to my reading list.
Earlier this year, I listen to a couple of On Being podcasts about ecology and sound. One was with someone who listened to and researched the songs of whales and the other was an acoustic ecologist who recorded sounds all over the world, in different landscapes. It made me pay more attention to the sounds I hear when walking or cycling.
Thanks so much for the tip.
Hi Henneke,
Thanks for the recommendations. Reading your periodic emails and blog is always a pleasure. I think I’ve also learned a lot in the past year or two.
I’ve recently discovered the value of shorter sentences. Your other recommendations are going to take some more effort. I never considered how important word choice, voice, and cadence can be.
I thought your recommendations and tips were so important that I created a desktop note that pops up on my desktop every morning. I use Simple Sticky Notes.
Again, many thanks for being who you are and doing what you do!
Cheers,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Paying attention to word choice and cadence help shape your voice. But these are not as important as knowing who you’re writing for and what your message is.
Happy writing and thank you for stopping by!
It makes me think of Anne Frank. She wasn’t even a professional writer, but you feel her voice so strongly. She treated her diary like a person and even named it Kitty. She begins every entry with “Dear Kitty.”
So without even trying, she knew the secret of voice.
Yes! That’s such a good example. Thanks so much for sharing, Wally. I also think Anne Frank was writing from her heart. She didn’t worry about what others would think of her writing. It was her diary after all. It’s been such a long time since I read her book. Maybe I should re-read it.
Knowing my writing voice has been a challenge, but with your ultimate guide, I’m sure I can identify my writing voice. Thank you for sharing the insights.
Happy writing, Joseph!
I was confused about how to find my voice and have it come through clearly in my writing.after reading your article ,I now feel ahuge sence of relief because you understand this problem and was able to precisely explain and enable me to get that stumbling block. I am free and full of joy and relief, I will get back on this journey of writing a great book that will help,plus entertain my readers,Keep up the great work, thank you so much.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Katherine. I appreciate it 🙂
Very informative. After my third novel, I look back and see that my writing (crime thrillers) really reflect the character who’s speaking. I attribute this to the ‘actor’ inside me. God knows he/she wants out!
Interesting idea. If you’re a good actor, you can write in many different voices.
Thank you for stopping by, Steve.
I’ve just ‘discovered’ you via Jon Morrow’s site, and how glad I am. I love your teaching – the clear voice, the intelligent format and the points you make with an understated force. Keep up the great work, and thank you 🙂
Thank you, Johanna. Nice to meet 🙂
Henneke,
You’re so cool. I love reading your posts because your voice, like the ones you use as examples here, is so clear and lovely that I feel like you’re the kind of person I could talk with for hours. It’s no wonder you’re such a successful blogger!
It’s good to be back here. Happy New Year!
Brittany
I bet that if we would meet, we could chat for hours! 🙂
Good to see you again, Brittany. Wishing you an enchanting 2015! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Here’s something I learned about voice from reading to my two young daughters.
They’re four and five, and their favourite stories, the ones I’m asked to read time after time, all share one quality: you don’t just read them, you perform them.
The pace and the rhythm sweep you along. The simple, emotive words build the drama and tension. The story comes to life.
I think the same is true of good grown-up writing.
You perform it to yourself, of course, but a strong, clear voice stirs you in a similar way.
And that makes it much more memorable.
Great to see you back – hope you have a fantastic year.
Hi Richard
Good to see you again!
I love the point you make – good stories aren’t read, they’re performed. You remind me that when I read the book “Resonate” by Nancy Duarte, I was struck by how many similarities exist between blogging and presenting. It’s all about drama, tension, emotion, and performance.
Thank you for adding your thoughts! Hope you’ll have a fantastic year, too.
Hi,
Happy, Happy New Year!
I love the drawing. I feel as though I could be in it listening to your message. This post is wonderfully written and useful to beginners and veteran writer’s alike. I especially like that you pointed out that one’s writing voice develops over time. I’m hopeful that is true for my “young ” writing voice. Thank you!
Marti
Hi Marti,
Happy New Year to you, too!
Are you one of those frogs listening? 😉
Don’t worry too much about your voice. When you focus on the basics of good writing, then it’ll appear.
Enjoy your writing!
Ahh lass. Twas Mahony who gave me the secret years ago. He, a barrel chested man with a predictable booming voice says to me, “ Lad, it will stand you in good stead should you kiss the Blarney Stone.”
Then, as if caught up in a reverie he recites the lines his cousin Francis Mahony penned. “ There is never a stone that whoever kisses, Oh! he never misses to grow eloquent ’tis’ he may clamber to a lady’s chamber, or become a member of parliament.“
I/m not sure how well I have practiced the secret. But, I have been aware of it lo these many years.
P.S. Should you see Henrietta, please tell her I asked about her. And, let her know the children are waiting for her book.
Ahh, Curtis, you’re so eloquent! I had to look up the reference – I had never heard of kissing the Blarney Stone before. A major omission in my Dutch schooling! Perhaps I need to go to Ireland to kiss this famous stone?
Henrietta sends you her regards. She’s feeling a little overwhelmed by the idea of a book, but I’m telling her we should try it 😉
This is my first visit to your site. I love to write and took a writing course many years ago. Life and personal problems took away that dream. So after I retired from the business world and the children were gone and I was alone, I studied painting. I found a local artist close to my home and studied there ten years or so. I think my paintings are good and I sold quite a few in the past. But nothing has happened for a few years even though I have a website. There are a few who read the blogs; none who read newsletters when I put forth the effort. Blogs – newsletters — what’s the difference. Of course, age has made a difference in everything even though I am considered “remarkable for my age” by family and friends. I look forward to hearing some comments.
It’s difficult to comment without any background knowledge. Your paintings look lovely.
How are you promoting your blog? So much competition exists these days, that it’s rarely sufficient to simply post on a blog. Consider joining an artist’s group on Facebook. Quite a few artists grow a following on Instagram (or even Google Plus), too. You don’t have to do all of the social media channels, but it helps to build a following. You could also try sharing more about your process and your sources of inspiration (Austin Kleon does this effectively. You might also want to check out Hugh Macleod’s blog (he wrote a post why most artist’s blogs fail: http://gapingvoid.com/2010/06/14/wmabf/).
Most people don’t stop by a blog just to see art. They like to learn more about the artists – what drives them, how do they work, what inspires them, how do they look at the world around them.
I hope this helps!
Henneke!
I always forget about you! I love reading your posts and learn so much from them. I signed up to your snackable tips and loved each one! I want to learn from you and hope to get into your course.
I’m new to blogging and freelance writing so I’m developing me voice. I hope I’m not too wordy or stale when I write my blog posts. I hope I come across as personable but I have no idea.
Thanks for this useful post!
Elna
Hi Elna
You always forget about me?
I had a quick peek, and your writing isn’t wordy or stale. Don’t worry!
Glad you enjoyed the snacks 🙂
Thanks for the mental tune up for the new year.
I like the contrast between Nancy Durate and Jon Morrow. You showed us a velvet glove vs. a sledgehammer. Both work in the right context.
Love the way you explain the difference – a velvet glove vs a sledgehammer. And yep, they can both work.
Thank you for stopping by again, Dave.
Nice post, Henneke! I so agree that being concise does not mean using as few words as possible. Some blogs seem to love this style, but I find it to be cold and sterile. There’s a balance between cutting the crap and cutting out all personality and emotion – which are the things that help readers bond with us, after all. 😉
A very happy new year to you!
Happy New Year to you, too!
Yes, totally agree – there’s a fine balance between being concise and adding personality. It’s about the feeling the reader gets from reading our content. If he gets bored, we’ve done something wrong! We’re either too wordy or we’ve stripped our content too bare.
Hi Henneke,
Great post.
First I have to say, awesome line here: “A strong voice helps us stand out in a snot-green ocean of boring content.”
I like the examples you provided. You can clearly see the difference between each example. Jon is one of my favorite writers and in everything he writes, I can definitely hear his voice. I can feel his words. And that’s something that takes time, as a blogger, to get across. I get the same feeling from when I read your posts. The way you structure certain words, I can understand the emotion you’re trying to relay.
I thought I’ve done a decent job in finding my voice this past year but I now see there’s more work to be done. There’s always room for improvement and I’m willing to make as much space possible to improve.
Thanks for this post, Henneke.
Hope you have a great rest of the week.
– Andrew
Developing a voice is a never-ending task.
My voice is different from a year ago, and next year it’ll be different again. We keep learning, and we find “new” words to use. Whenever I read anything, I also look for words that I like.
Don’t worry too much about your voice. It’s more important to have fun, experiment a little, and keep writing!
Hope you’re having a great week, too.
Thanks Henneke. I love your voice. Thank you for offering such great examples. It’s great to have “visuals”.
Thank you, Kelly 🙂
Hello Henneke,
First of all, Happy New Year! Glad to read your break was good. Thanks for writing another useful article. What I really like about your blog is that you break all the important parts of writing and turn them into conversations. While reading this article, I couldn’t help thinking about Twitter, which is microblogging. It’s a fact that very specific accounts with a very defined voice are the ones which get more engagement from people. And Twitter is one powerful tool in my opinion.
Cheers from my thesis cave 🙂
Happy new year, and good luck with your thesis, Virginia! That’s a whole different game from writing a weekly blog post. How long do you expect it to take you?
Yes, Twitter can be like microblogging. When I share links to articles, I like sharing specific quotes rather than use just the headline.
Oh help oh no it’s a… -green ocean (word omitted on the grounds of good taste).
I was just escaping from the dreary winter weather by thinking of my favourite summertime walk. I stop at a duck pond and sit on a nice little bench to have a picnic and talk to the ducks.
But then that word hit me (you know what it is!).
Well it did paint a picture in your reader’s mind that was sensory and emotional. But my will shiny little duckpond ever shimmer and shine again?
I’d love to read an article in the future about the pro’s and cons of using such sensory words 🙂
Of course, your duck pond will shimmer and shine again – even brighter than ever before. Wait till the sun shines on it!
It’s difficult to please everyone. You may feel this word is bad taste, but someone else has highlighted the sentence with that word as an awesome line.
Strong words make readers stop and pay attention, and remember. You may chase away a few readers when you over-do it, but you may draw other closer to you. And you can’t always get it right.
This is a really helpful article, Henneke. Thanks very much!
You’re welcome, Nat. I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Great post!
I like how you demonstrate and compare voices.
It really helps to understand the difference, and what really works and what doesn’t.
I’m still in the process of developing my own voice. But you and Jon are the main influencers 🙂
Your course is truly the best writing course there is.
I never met anyone coming close to adding so much value and over delivering that much.
And your personal feedback is priceless.
I Love it!
Thank you so much, Benny.
I love teaching and seeing people’s writing improve week by week 🙂