Finding Your Voice: A Gentle Guide to Developing Your Writing Style
If you’ve ever read a book and instantly recognized the author—before even glancing at the cover—you’ve encountered the magic of writing style. It’s that unmistakable voice, the rhythm of the sentences, the way certain words feel handpicked just for that story. And here’s the good news: you already have a writing style too. Even if it’s still taking shape.
You might be thinking, But my writing sounds all over the place! Or I just copy what I’ve read. That’s okay. That’s how it starts. Writing style doesn’t show up all polished and confident—it’s something you grow into. It evolves with you as you write, as you learn, and as you live inside your story.
As an editor, I see this all the time. Voice isn’t about being clever or literary or sounding like anyone else—it’s about clarity, consistency, and confidence in how you tell the story. And the only way to get there? Is to write. And write again. And let yourself grow along the way.
So if you’re in the middle of that messy, magical process, here are a few gentle ways to nurture and shape your unique writing voice.
1. Read Like a Writer (Not Just a Reader)
Before we talk about writing, let’s talk about reading. If you want to develop your voice, it helps to pay attention to the voices that move you.
Think about your favorite books. The ones you couldn’t put down, or the ones you still think about months (or years) later. What did you love about the way they were written? Was it the cozy tone? The sharp wit? The way the author made you feel seen?
Start reading with curiosity. Mark the lines that make you stop and reread. Jot down what stands out about the pacing, the dialogue, or the emotional pull. You’re not looking to imitate—you’re trying to figure out what you’re drawn to. These are breadcrumbs leading to your own voice.
2. Write Often—Even When It’s Messy
There’s no shortcut to discovering your voice—you have to write through it.
Write when you’re inspired and when you’re not. Write when the words flow like water and when they feel stuck in cement. Every time you sit down at the page, you’re learning something—about your instincts, your style, your storytelling rhythm.
The first few pages might feel clunky. That’s normal. You're finding your footing. And if you feel like your writing style changes every other day, that’s okay too. It’s part of figuring out what fits and what feels forced.
Your writing voice will become clearer through the act of writing itself. Keep going.
3. Notice What Keeps Showing Up
After you’ve written a few scenes, chapters, or even just a handful of journal entries, go back and read them—not to critique, but to observe.
What do you naturally lean into? Are your characters always emotionally layered? Do your descriptions focus on color, sound, or internal feeling? Do you tend toward short, snappy dialogue or long, flowing prose?
The patterns that emerge are worth paying attention to—not because they need fixing, but because they might be your writing voice revealing itself.
The goal here isn’t to erase those habits—it’s to understand them. When you notice your own rhythms and tendencies, you can begin to shape them intentionally.
4. Give Yourself Permission to Experiment
Finding your voice doesn’t mean writing the same way forever. In fact, trying on different tones, structures, or storytelling techniques is a powerful way to grow.
Rewrite a scene from a different character’s point of view. Mimic the structure of a story you love. Challenge yourself to write a paragraph entirely in dialogue. Don’t worry about whether it’s good—worry about how it feels.
You might discover that certain styles feel stiff or unnatural, while others light something up inside you. That spark is worth chasing.
Voice is discovered in the doing. Let yourself play.
5. Stop Trying to Sound Like a “Real Writer”
I can’t tell you how many brilliant writers I’ve worked with who’ve told me they don’t feel like real writers.
They second-guess themselves, thinking their sentences are too simple, their tone too casual, their stories too weird. But here’s the truth: there is no single way a “real writer” is supposed to sound. The best voices in fiction are the ones that feel authentic—not the ones that check all the boxes of some imagined rulebook.
So let go of the idea that your writing needs to be fancy or flawless to matter. If your voice is clear, honest, and engaging? That’s what makes it real.
6. Find Feedback That Feels Safe and Supportive
Sometimes, you need a mirror to see yourself clearly. Feedback from someone who understands your goals and respects your process can help you recognize what’s working in your writing—even if you don’t see it yet.
Ask your critique partner or editor: What moments in the writing feel the most “me”? What lines felt powerful or personal? Where did they hear your voice the loudest?
Good feedback doesn’t tell you to sound different. It helps you sharpen the voice you already have.
And remember—your voice is yours. If someone tries to flatten it or rewrite it in their image, that’s not feedback worth following.
7. Let Your Voice Evolve—Then Go Back and Find the Harmony
One of the most comforting (and frustrating) truths about writing is that your voice will absolutely change—and sometimes within the very same project.
If you’re working on a long-form piece like a novel or memoir, don’t be surprised if the voice in Chapter 1 feels noticeably different from the voice in Chapter 50. I see it all the time when I edit manuscripts. The early pages often sound like the writer dipping their toes into the world they’re building—carefully choosing words, figuring out the tone, still getting to know their characters. But by the end? The voice is fuller, more confident, more lived-in.
That shift isn’t a mistake. It’s growth in real time.
Because the truth is, you’re not just writing when your fingers are on the keyboard. You’re writing when you’re in the shower arguing with your characters. When you’re out walking and a piece of dialogue clicks into place. When you’re so deep in a scene that your tea has gone cold twice, and you’ve realized you never even added water in the first place.
All those moments—whether you’re actively typing or not—are shaping your voice. You’re evolving as a writer with every imaginary conversation, every reread, every plot twist that keeps you up at night. And by the time you reach the final chapter, you’re not the same version of yourself who wrote the first page.
This is why the editing process is so important—not just to polish the grammar or fix pacing, but to bring your voice into alignment. Once the draft is done, it’s time to go back and create harmony between the different stages of you that exist in the manuscript.
It’s not about forcing everything to sound identical—it’s about smoothing the transitions, bringing the opening chapters into conversation with the confidence and insight of the closing ones. It’s about revisiting your beginning with the wisdom of the writer you became along the way.
That evolution? That’s part of the magic. It means you grew with your story. Now, your job is to help your story grow with you—through revision, refinement, and care.
So don’t panic when your voice feels inconsistent. Don’t scrap your first chapters just because they sound a little more tentative. That early version of you mattered too. They got you started. Just be ready to meet them again at the end—and give your whole manuscript the benefit of the voice you’ve earned by writing it.
You’re Not Just Finding Your Voice—You’re Growing Into It
If you take anything from this post, let it be this: your writing voice isn’t something you’re missing or lacking—it’s something you’re becoming. With every sentence you write, every revision you make, every cup of tea you forget to drink because you're so deep in your world, you’re getting closer to the kind of storyteller you want to be.
And if you’ve written something long, like a book, and you’re staring at it thinking, Why does Chapter 1 feel like a totally different writer showed up than the one who wrote Chapter 50?—I want you to know that’s normal. That’s not failure. That’s a sign of growth. Now comes the beautiful work of bringing it all together.
This is exactly the kind of transformation I love supporting authors through. Helping you spot where your voice shines, where it wavers, and how to make it sing from start to finish—that’s where the real magic of editing lives.
✨ If you’re ready to bridge the gap between where your story began and where your voice has taken it, check out my Fairy GodReader editing service right here. Or send me a message—I’m always happy to chat and help you figure out your next step.
Your voice matters. It deserves to be heard—and heard clearly. Let’s make sure it gets the spotlight it deserves.
