How To Find Your Blogging Voice
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We all know bloggers who are so distinctive that even when
they’re posting on another blog you know exactly who they are and where they’re
from. They have a strong voice that identifies them instantly. And they’re
unique. Cait@Paper Fury’s voice is
completely different from that of Liz@Out
Of Coffee Out Of Mind. Their blogging voice is so strong that it is impossible
to mix them up with anyone else no matter what part of the blogosphere you find
them in.
You blogging voice is part what you write, part how you
write it, and part how you format it. Writing on blogs isn’t like writing a
novel, or an essay. You have more leeway to break the rules, use unusual formatting,
coin odd turns of phrase and let your personality spill out into your writing.
Whether you’ve been blogging for a little while now and want to hone your
blogging voice, or you’re just starting out and want to make sure you sound
unique, here are some tips I’ve found helpful in my quest to find my own
blogging voice.
Find What You Like To Write
What type of posts do you most enjoy writing? Long analyses
of the story elements in popular books and movies? Witty discussions about your
favourite character tropes? Lists of tips? Personal stories? If you’ve been
blogging for a while, look back at the posts that you’ve already written and
note down your favourites, as well as posts that other people have particularly
liked. Which styles of blog posts are your best?
If you haven’t been blogging long, experiment. Try different
types of posts. See which ones resonate most with you and your audience. You
don’t have to be tied to one particular kind of post. Many bloggers write
multiple kinds of posts. But you will tend to favour certain kinds. I won’t
write book reviews or huge analyses of an entire plot, and rarely personal
stories from outside of my writing life. I tend favour list posts and
discussions on story elements. Find what styles of blog post work for you.
Write How You Like
What are your writing quirks? Do you like to end your paragraphs
with ellipses? Do you use run on sentences, asides, sarcasm, or out and out
fangirl squealing? These all make your writing much more distinctive. What
turns of phrase do you tend to use in real life? Are you writing as if it’s an
essay, or as if you’re speaking to someone? Are you more comfortable writing in
a serious, more formal style, or conversationally? Find what feels natural to
you to write. And don’t be stifled by what you think other people will think of
your writing. If you find yourself adding sarcastic asides and trailing
thoughts to your blog posts, allow yourself to.
Draft Without Censorship
When you draft your blog posts, don’t censor yourself. Write
whatever comes to mind. Let yourself wander off topic if that’s where you seem
to be going. It can all be fixed in edits. Put in those terrible jokes, weird
examples and digressions. While much of it may be cut in edits, allowing
yourself the freedom to write what comes to mind means that you’re allowing
yourself to think creatively. And you might come up with some surprising things
that are a lot more personal to you, and unusual than you would have if you
stuck to a rigid plan and worried about people’s expectations.
Because here’s the thing. No one is going to see that early
draft. Your draft is a place to get things down and have those weird, confused
thoughts. Even if you’re more a planner and prefer neat drafts, giving yourself
a little leeway to crack a joke, or get off topic can allow your personality
through, and readers tend to connect more when they can see your personality
behind the writing. And if the draft is terrible, that’s ok. That’s what
editing is for, sorting through the bad, saving the good and creating a polish
product you can share at the end.
Don’t Be Afraid To Be Different
Being different is a difficult thing. Sometimes it seems
that every blogger is so much better at making jokes, at sharing authentic
stories, or personal parts of their writing process. Being you might not seem
like the best prospect. Maybe you seem boring to you. Or you maybe you seem too
different, your blog isn’t enough like the others for people to come and read
it. But the truth is, the world doesn’t need another Paper Fury. We’ve got one of them and one of them is enough. We
need diverse blogs and diverse bloggers. We need different personalities and
points of view. We need people to be fearlessly themselves in their writing. We
need you to be you.
7 comments
This is such awesome advice <3 I'll definitely be keeping it in mind.
ReplyDeleteEllie | On the Other Side of Reality
So glad you found it interesting Ellie. Thank you so much for stopping by!
DeleteThis was briliant post, especially the last bit because even though my blog is a corner for my thoughts, I keep overthinking my posts. Every time I'm writing one I overanalyze my voice, whether I don't sound weird or boring or if the information is even relevant. And then I think what others think. Definitely need to focus on my style of writing and on finding my own voice. :)
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being completely honest, I do the exact same thing. Blogs are a weird space, because they're so personal, but at the same time they're incredibly public. And finding the balance between the two is so difficult, isn't it?
DeleteYessss to all of these! I especially think drafting without censor is important because if I try to go for final-draft material on my first one, I just completely shut down and I can't write anything. If I were to add to anything, I'd say don't assume that you have to be tied down to what you like forever! Definitely write and find what and how you like to write, but if in a month or a year or whatever you find that those things are making you miserable, don't be afraid to start the process over again. You don't have to live in a niche forever!
ReplyDeleteSo right! There's always room to change and expand and grow. I think it's hard because blogging is so public and there's always that worry that if you change, people will stop reading. But at the same time, if you don't blog about what you like, then really, what is the point of blogging?
Deleteall;kfja;slkfjsa;fkasdf YOU ARE THE NICEST PERSON EVER. I was so excited when I saw you mention me and Paper Fury in the same sentence, I had to get up and walk around for, like, five minutes. :D
ReplyDeleteThese are all such good points. I know I spent a lot of time sitting down a planning what my voice was going to be like before I even started blogging, and it's so reassuring to know that all that planning has paid off!
Also, you have a very distinctive voice. I think I would recognize your writing no matter where it popped up in the blogosphere. :)
Great post, as always! :)