Hear ye. Hear ye. Behold thee content writing tip o' thee morning! #3of20 #RileyWrites You need to understand your voice. In this example, let's assume you're writing on behalf of yourself for a blog or LinkedIn post. (But the same holds true if you're ghostwriting for a person or company—you must understand the desired voice.) When you write for yourself, use your authentic voice. You may ask, "But what is my authentic voice?" Since we rarely analyze how we speak, it can be helpful to ask a few close friends, colleagues, or LinkedIn connections: "What's my voice?" "Describe me in five adjectives." Your voice and personality are intertwined. One of my graduate school professors told me, "I hope you keep moving through the world in the way you write: creatively, introspectively, humorously, with risk, insightfully, and with a lot of wisdom. I really admire how—in your writing and in person—you present your ideas in a quiet and gentle way, but they boldly stand out." I am SO grateful for her insight. THAT is my voice. Find a perceptive friend who knows your voice better than you do. Using your own voice makes writing easier, sustainable, and more enjoyable! > I will share 20 content writing tips now through 12/29. Follow for more!
I always can tell when my students move into the "I am writing" inauthentic voice--which not so coincidentally usually results in bad writing: they look up and away, frown--all sorts of things. My advice: be aware of how your body reacts to your writing. It should have the same reaction it would if you were talking over coffee with someone who is listening intently. If I say,"imagine we're just sitting in a coffee shop; how would you say these points to me?" The voice and writing becomes true. This tip works with the executives I coach as well. Trust your body! It never lies. And it will allow you to find your true voice.
Yep. This one's a gem, Laura Riley. I know myself pretty well, but I can't say I've identified my voice. I'm curious which adjectives my friends would select. Just as Rachel Conard mentioned, mine would fluctuate.
Laura I initially went to school for creative writing. It was what I knew best & what I did best. Early on, I was told that there were very few career options for writers. So I looked elsewhere: sociology, music, marketing, design, code, video, etc. What I found is that I will always be a writer. A story teller. A communicator. “What is my voice,” is a difficult question for me to answer & I will explore why that is now that I’m aware of it. But what I do know is that my voice is an accumulation of the things that I have done, the knowledge I’ve consumed, the steps that I’ve taken, the change I want to implement, and the people that have impacted me. Most people just call me crazy, lol. But I do what I feel is right, say what I mean, I don’t like bullshit, and I care. So today if I had to define my voice I would say something like, “Bold but true. Chaotic but controlled. Young but eager.” If someone else were to describe me [depending on where it came from] it may sound like, “that dude that likes technology and talks to himself.” 🤣
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Laura Riley - That's awesome that your voice is so clearly defined. (Can I get some insights from this perceptive grad professor??) I feel my voice changes depending on my mood and the topic. I can be playful. Pensive. Passionate. Inquisitive. And let's not forget sarcastic! :)
What has been key to discovering and cultivating your voice on LinkedIn? Quentin Allums, Mike Casavant, Kate Toon, Kerri Twigg, and Rachel Conard.
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7yI look forward to learning more, maybe we could work together we need to update many things our content is very stale