Finding Your Voice as a Writer: Lessons From My Editorial Desk

When you write, whose voice do you hear? Is it yours - or the one you think you should sound like?

Most of us, at some point, lose sight of our writing voice. We chase what we’ve been taught to admire: polished prose, formal phrasing, big words that feel like they carry weight. But in trying to sound ‘writerly,’ we often drown out the one voice that truly matters: our own.

I remember once spending nearly an hour writing the opening paragraph of a blog post - then deleting the whole thing. Not because it was wrong, or clumsy, or full of errors. But because it didn’t sound like me.

Every sentence felt forced. Too careful. Too polished. Like I was writing in someone else’s tone; trying to impress some invisible reader who’d only trust me if I sounded extra-clever.

And the more I edited as I wrote, the worse it got. I wasn’t just stuck, I was tangled up in expectations. Trying to write ‘properly’, but losing all sense of what I actually wanted to say. That’s when I realised: the problem wasn’t the topic. It was the pressure I’d put on myself.

From my side of the editorial desk, I see it all the time. Writers (creative writers, business professionals, creatives, students) will send me work that’s technically sound, but missing something. There’s no warmth. No spark. No you.

And yet, that spark can be recovered. Voice isn’t something mystical or innate. It’s something you can uncover - and strengthen - with practice and perspective.

Words to write by.

Writing That Sounds Like You

When I work with clients - whether they’re writing a website, a blog, or a novel - one of the most common things they say is, “I’m not sure if this sounds right.” But what they really mean is, “I’m not sure if this sounds like me.”

I get it. Writing is vulnerable. You’re putting your thoughts, your tone, your choices out there, and hoping they land. That’s especially true when you’re trying to write professionally. You want to sound capable, polished, and trustworthy.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned, both as a writer and an editor:

Voice doesn’t come from sounding ‘professional.’ It comes from feeling genuine.

When we try too hard to sound like a grown-up version of ourselves - all formal and tidy - we lose what makes our writing warm, or sharp, or funny, or honest. We smooth away the edges that give it life.

How Do You Find Your Voice?

The truth is, most writers don’t start out knowing what their voice is. It’s not something you consciously create; it’s something you notice over time. It’s the patterns and rhythms that come naturally to you. The phrases you reach for without thinking. The mood or cadence that feels most like home.

But if you’re stuck, here are a few simple ways to start listening for your voice, and writing in a way that honours it:

Write like you speak - then tidy it up.

Record yourself explaining your idea aloud, then type it up. You might be surprised how clearly and naturally you communicate when the pressure’s off.

Read your work aloud.

This helps you hear what flows and what doesn’t. If a sentence feels clunky or stiff when spoken, it probably needs a little reshaping.

Look back at writing you’ve enjoyed doing.

Was there a moment in an old blog post, email, or story where you sounded like yourself? That’s your voice trying to be heard.

Don’t try to sound like someone else.

Admiring others is fine, but your readers aren’t looking for another version of them. They’re looking for you.

Let it be imperfect.

Finding your voice isn’t about getting it ‘right’ - it’s about recognising when it feels right.

Keep Listening. Keep Writing.

Your writing voice isn’t something you find once and keep forever. It evolves; shaped by what you read, what you experience, and how bravely you show up on the page. It might feel quiet at first. A murmur. A faint impression. But the more you write, the more clearly it speaks.

And the more you learn to trust it.

There’s no shortcut. But there is something steadying about letting go of who you think you should sound like, and beginning to write like yourself.

So take a breath. Then take another sentence. Your voice is already there.

Your voice isn’t found in the rush. It’s waiting in the quiet moments you make for it.

Need a Second Pair of Eyes?

Whether you’re still finding your voice or fine-tuning it, I’m here to help you shape words that feel true to you. With a gentle, collaborative approach, I’ll support you in strengthening your writing - without losing what makes it yours.