by As a new blogger, it’s important to find your voice. As important as it is though, it’s very difficult for most people. It’s kind of like hearing your own voicemail – no one likes the way they sound in messages.
Your voice will help define your new blog and direct its path through the years. Your voice may change over time, and that’s okay.
A Personal Journey to Finding Your Voice
If you don’t find your voice immediately, don’t panic. It happens to all of us. We sit in front of a screen and start typing – and often what comes out isn’t what we expected…or sometimes it isn’t what we wanted.
When I first started blogging as part of my career, I wanted to be good at it (of course). And because I was in sales, I wanted to attract clients and make money. So, I started a website and started writing.
I think you know where this is heading…but it was awful.
I grew up in the world of punk rock. I have tattoos. I sometimes have long hair (or, back in the day, colored hair). I’m not a straight laced business type guy. And although much of that has become more and more acceptable, back then, it still wasn’t seen as the best look when it came to “serious” business.
So I tried to be someone I wasn’t. And it showed.
If I remember correctly, my first blog post on that website was about solar panels and how they were revolutionizing the consumer energy market. It was very serious.
And very boring.
Over time, I figured out what my voice really was. As I’ve said before, I’m not always perfect, and my English isn’t textbook work. My 9th grade English teacher, Mr. Nelson, would have his red pen all over this blog.
But I did find my voice eventually. And even now, I sometimes struggle with it. I start thinking that this or that is not the technical way to do something. Or I worry about SEO or what my competitors are doing. I fear that I’m rambling (I do it a lot) or not getting my point across. The key to finding my voice? Well, that’s why you’re here, right?
My Favorite 5 Tips to Finding Your Voice as a Blogger
1. Stop thinking.
Just start writing. It helps if you have an idea of where you’re going with the post, but sometimes you just have to start typing. One of my favorite authors, William S. Burroughs, was influential in teaching me this method. His style of writing was disjointed and followed the path of a brain afflicted with ADD (although, in his case, I believe it was less ADD and more heroin) – it wasn’t like the other authors I had read. I remember reading an interview with him where he talked about sitting in front of his typewriter and just typing. (I always picture Jack Nicholson in The Shining typing, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”)
Sometimes it’s not about what you write, but just the fact that you’re writing.
2. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
You can edit everything. You can delete. You can rewrite. You can get advice. You can take criticism.
Your post is not the final word on anything – you can always go back and work on it, even years later, if you want.
3. Hit publish.
Sometimes, you have to stop looking at it and just hit publish. Take chances. Just click that button and let it fly.
4. Imagine you’re having a conversation.
Most of us, no matter what our career is, spend time talking to clients or customers. They ask us questions, you answer. And you’re great at it. But sit you in front of a computer, and suddenly you have nothing to say. I actually learned this from trying to do video years ago. The minute that light turns on, we freeze. My friends and I always called it Cindy Brady syndrome (if you’re too young to understand, watch this).
We spend a lot of time in our lives talking. We talk about things we know, understand, believe in, or want to express. We rarely have difficulty doing it, so why not pretend you’re having a conversation with someone and start typing? Answer a question, tell a story, explain something you think others don’t understand, express your feelings about a product, service, person, or idea. Just do it through your fingers.
5. Walk away and do read something else.
When I feel really stuck and I start thinking I’m just pretending to be someone else and trying to sound like what I think everyone wants me to sound like, I walk away from the keyboard (figuratively) and go read something else. I pull up a favorite website, grab a book, or search through the internet to find something new.
The idea is to get out of your head.
When I was a musician, if I felt stuck during the writing process, I’d go crank up a favorite album (yes, I still call them that despite the fact that they haven’t been called that for years) and just enjoy someone else’s work. I’d get fired up by a band I loved or a song that got me excited. I’d forget about things for a minute and just enjoy life.
By the time I got back to the keyboard, I was ready to go.
Finding Your Voice Isn’t Permanent
Over time, you’ll start to feel comfortable with your voice and who you are as a blogger. It may not be permanent, and that’s ok.
Let your voice change. Learning is a process, and with it comes change, so don’t fear it, embrace it. When you go back and read your early writing, you should think it’s not your best. That’s the point. You’re getting better every day.
Never be afraid of change – it’s how you grow as a blogger (and as a human in general).
I hope this post helps you relax, find your voice, and learn to go with the flow. I know this post will seem odd to me in ten years, and I’m ok with that. The key is to let yourself out onto the page (screen). The more you do, the more you’ll find yourself connecting with your audience and building a following.
Have some writing you’re proud of? Leave a link in the comments, I’d love to see what your voice is all about.
