Finding Your Own Voice

Every writer begins his or her writing life in the same place - that miraculous day when words suddenly come to life and the great key to the mystery of language is unlocked for the first time. For many of us, it happens in our kindergarten or first grade year - but no matter the timing; it all culminates in the same, splendid realization that those individual letters of the alphabet mean something, and if you string them together - oh, my, what fun you can have! From this point on, the path each writer takes is as unique as he or she is: some will discover that they're content to scribble nothing more demanding than weekly grocery lists or some e-mail jokes, while others crave the chance to translate their innermost thoughts and feelings into works of art that the whole world will see.

For those of us who fall into the second group (and if you're reading this Tips Page, I'm fairly sure that you've decided a life of scribbling lists isn't enough for you *G*) one of the best ways that I've found for finding and developing one's individual "voice" is to read, read, and read some more. Read voraciously, read in all genres, from the classics on up - but as often as possible, soak in and mull over other writers' words. Get the rhythms and the flow of the language firmly into your brain, your heart and your soul...

And at the same time that you're immersing yourself in reading, WRITE. Write, write, and write some more. Write short pieces, write long pieces, write pieces that are in between, but keep writing. Eventually, you will find that "comfort zone" which is uniquely you - the way to express yourself that is perfect for your vision of the world. You style may end up being short and snappy, or you may favor more complex, layered language. Regardless, when it finally fits, you'll know it.

I often compare successful "voice" writing to tuning a piano: in order to express something in your own, distinctive way, you must keep at it, honing the words and phrases until they sing for you - until you've captured the essence of that moment, object or emotion to the best of your ability. And when the words flow in a rhythm that sounds right to your inner ear, then you'll know that they're "in tune", and that you've used your own voice to make it happen.

It takes a great deal of time and practice, but it is a worthy - and necessary - goal for anyone who wants to try to harness the magic of stringing those little letters together for all the world to see.

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