A few weeks ago, at a book event, an audience member asked me what the most common advice is that I give to my writing students. Without even thinking, I knew the answer: to write like yourself, not like anyone else.
For many writers, especially newer ones just starting out, it’s easy to fall into the trap of imitating other people’s voices. You read some Joan Didion or Nora Ephron or David Sedaris, and suddenly, your writing turns dark and lyrical or bluntly conversational or quirky and weird. A lot of times, this happens without you even meaning to, a subconscious change. But other times, it’s purposeful; you read someone great and you think, man, this is how a writer is supposed to sound, and so you tell yourself that if you want to be good, you need to be Just. Like. Them.
And this happens to everyone. A few months ago, I interviewed a writer of a soon-to-be-bestselling novel, and she told me that for years, she’d shied away from using her real voice in her writing because she thought readers wouldn’t like it, trying instead to sound like other, more “serious’ writers. She submitted manuscript after manuscript, only to get rejected each time. It wasn’t until she finally said screw it, and wrote a novel that sounded fully, unabashedly like herself, that she got a yes. And you know what critics said about that novel when it eventually came out? That the writer’s ovoice was the best, most original thing about it.
The more you try on other people’s voices, the less you’ll be sure of your own. And let me be clear: Voice is the most important thing a writer can have. It’s how readers get a sense of your personality and connect with you on the page. It’s how they know who you are, and understand what it is you’re trying to say.
But finding—and nurturing—your voice as a writer can be a hard, even lifelong process. Some people get so caught up in trying to be like other writers, in coming across as funny or wise or serious or snarky, that they end up losing sight of their actual, honest voice. And as a result, their work comes off stilted and fake, an imitation of someone else rather than a representation of who they actually are.
As a writing teacher, one of my biggest challenges is helping students find their voices. It’s not easy! While some people’s voices are crystal-clear from the get-go, many others’ are hidden behind a wall of self-doubt and insecurity. It can take a lot of time and effort to coax these voices out, but inevitably, over time, it happens. And when it does, it’s the most wonderfully satisfying feeling for both of us. Because once you find your voice, you never want to let it go.
My upcoming four-week course, From Pitch to Publish, isn’t about writing, per se—it’s focused on selling your work and getting published. But I know from years of experience that if you don’t have a clear voice, no one’s gonna want to read your work. It’s that simple. And so, in my class, I’m going to talk a lot about how to find your voice as a writer, and how to hold onto it. Once you learn how to be yourself on the page, the better chance you’ll have of resonating with readers and getting published.
The class starts (on Zoom) in five weeks. If you sign up before 9/1, you can save $50. There’s more info (and a registration form) on my website, but you can also reach out to me if you have questions or want to sign up. If you do join, I can’t wait to help you find that voice and set it free.