TLDR: Your writing voice is what makes you stand out—it’s your unique style, rhythm, and personality on the page. This guide shows you how to develop, refine, and strengthen it for clearer, more impactful writing.
Most people write how they think they should write, not how they actually speak. That’s the problem.
A distinct writing voice is what separates forgettable content from something people actually care about. It’s the difference between reading a generic speech, short story, blog post, or LinkedIn Article and instantly knowing, Oh, that’s Morgan Housel, or That sounds like Ann Handley.
Your writing voice is the fingerprint of your words. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it—your rhythm, tone, and personality baked into every sentence.
But most founders and thought leaders struggle to find a distinctive voice. They sound robotic, overly polished, or worse—like everyone else. So how do you develop a strong voice that’s unmistakably yours?
Let’s break it down.
1. What is a writing voice?
Your writing voice is how your words sound on the page. It’s your personality in written form, and all good writers have one.
There are two common mistakes people make when thinking about voice:
- Confusing voice with tone.
- Voice is who you are as a writer. It’s consistent.
- Tone is how you express yourself in different contexts. It can change based on audience, platform, or subject.
- Example: Your unique voice stays the same whether you’re writing an email or a LinkedIn post, but the tone might be more formal in one and casual in the other.
- Confusing voice with point of view.
- Point of view is what you believe and the perspective you bring.
- Voice is how you express that point of view.
- Example: Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk both write about marketing. But their voices couldn’t be more different. Godin is measured and philosophical. Gary V is fast-paced and punchy.
Bottom line: Your author voice makes your writing recognizable—whether you’re writing individual characters in fiction or applying creative writing to LinkedIn posts.
2. Finding your unique writing style
Most people have a consistent voice. They just don’t trust it.
They edit themselves too much. They strip out the personality. They try to sound professional—which often means boring.
If that’s you, here are three ways to start finding your natural voice:
→ Write how you talk
The easiest way to develop an authentic voice is to write like you speak. If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.
Try this: Record yourself explaining a concept. Then transcribe it. You’ll notice your natural phrasing, rhythm, and word choices.
→ Analyze your past writing
Go back to emails, texts, or posts where you were in a flow state. Where the words just worked.
- What patterns do you notice?
- Are your sentences short and direct, or long and flowing?
- Do you use humor, analogies, or storytelling?
→ Journal freely
Write for 10 minutes without overthinking. Don’t edit. Don’t worry about structure. Just write.
Your real voice lives in the unfiltered version.
3. Study great writers—but don’t imitate their voice
You don’t find your writer’s voice by copying others. But you can learn by studying multiple voices and different writing styles.
Here are a few writers with unmistakable voices—and what makes them unique:
📖 Ernest Hemingway → Minimalist. Short sentences. No fluff.
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”
(A Farewell to Arms)
📖 Maya Angelou → Poetic. Emotional. Story-driven.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
(I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
📖 David Ogilvy → Persuasive. Conversational. No wasted words.
“If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, you should use their language, the language they use every day.”
(Confessions of an Advertising Man)
📖 Brené Brown → Warm. Research-backed. Relatable.
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.”
(Daring Greatly)
📖 Gary Vaynerchuk → Energetic. Unfiltered. Straight-to-the-point.
“The person who gives the most value wins.”
(Crush It!)
Each of them leans into their strengths. That’s what makes their writing unforgettable.
4. Establishing your core themes and messages
Your voice isn’t just about how you write. It’s also about what you consistently talk about.
Great writers don’t just write anything. They have clear themes they return to over and over.
- Morgan Housel → Money, psychology, decision-making
- James Clear → Habits, behavior change, personal growth
- Adam Grant → Work culture, leadership, original thinking
As an aspiring writer, what’s your recurring theme? What do you want to be known for?
5. Using storytelling to strengthen your writing voice
Storytelling isn’t just for novelists. It’s the most powerful way to make your writing memorable.
When you tell a story, the reader can see what you’re saying. They feel it intimately and visualize every character.
Try this structure:
- Problem: What was the challenge?
- Journey: What happened next?
- Resolution: What changed? What’s the takeaway?
That’s it. Keep it simple.
6. Writing with clarity and confidence
The best writing is clear, not complicated.
If your sentences are long and bloated, your readers will get lost.
Here’s how to fix it:
✅ Cut unnecessary words (e.g., “in order to” → “to”)
✅ Use active voice (e.g., “The team launched the product” → not “The product was launched by the team.”)
✅ Avoid jargon (e.g., “synergize” → just say “work together”)
Keep it sharp and simple.
7. Practicing and refining over time
Your writing voice isn’t something you “find” once and never change. It evolves. You may rotate through different voices in your lifetime.
The more you write, the sharper it gets. The more you refine, the stronger it becomes.
→ Write every day (or close to it)
The more reps, the faster you develop a distinct voice.
→ Get feedback—but be selective
Not everyone’s opinion matters. Find people who understand your writing style and give useful input.
→ Be patient
Hemingway rewrote the last page of A Farewell to Arms 47 times. Your first draft won’t be perfect.
8. Injecting personality while staying professional
Professional doesn’t mean stiff. It means credible.
You can be both clear and engaging.
Try this:
- Add humor if it fits your style
- Use analogies to make concepts stick
- Let your quirks come through—your audience follows you, not a perfect version of you
9. Avoiding common pitfalls
🚫 Over-editing the life out of your writing → Keep the human touch
🚫 Trying to sound like someone else → Your true voice is more powerful
🚫 Being too safe → Have an opinion. Stand for something.
Final thoughts on writing voice
Your unique writing voice isn’t built overnight. It’s built through repetition, experimentation, and a willingness to be yourself on the page.
Write how you talk. Stick to your core themes. Tell stories. Keep refining.
Most people never take the time to develop their authorial voice.
If you do, you’ll stand out—every time.
Mo is the founder and CEO of Column Content, a thought leadership content agency that helps leaders get seen. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
