How often do you hear the word ‘voice’ when you read or hear about writing? Some newbies might find this confusing – surely you are writing, not speaking! So, what is this ‘voice’? Quite simply, it is the way in which you write, the way that your voice comes through in the syntax and the words that you choose when you write. It is how your personality shines through, how readers get to know who you are and what your views are, so, when someone tells you that you have a strong or confident voice in your writing, take it as the compliment it is meant to be.

All writers have their own voice and the only way to make it better is to practice using the tools of your chosen trade. Those tools include effective use of diction, the details that you choose, the syntax, the images your writing portrays and the tone that you use. Here’s how to use those tools like a pro:

Diction

This is referring to the words that you choose to use. When these words are carefully chosen, they affect what a reader experiences when they read. For example, rather than using the rather boring word 'house,' you could use something more evocative, like cottage, or mansion, for example. Each word has its own connotation, as do the words that you chose to describe a person. Take the words ‘proud’ and ‘vain’ for example. The word ‘vain’ conjures up images of negativity while ‘proud’ could mean the same but with a more positive tone. It matters not what voice you use, it matters that your diction is right for the tone. If you want your writing to be entertaining, use words that are playful, that conjure up images of entertainment whereas when your intention is to persuade your readers, your language should be confident and straightforward.

Details

This is self-explanatory really – details are moments, your observations and the facts that you use in your writing. This is what you use to give your readers a better experience. For example, instead of putting ‘a green car’, you could type something along the lines of ‘a dusty, dented green Mustang’, which evokes a better picture in their minds. Good details encourage your readers to participate in what you write. Each word allows the reader to picture the physical details of your image. The number of details you include will also count towards the experience – when you put several specific details into a paragraph, your reader can get more involved whereas fewer details can leave the reader feeling as though they are missing something.

Imagery

Imagery gives another layer using sensory details, providing an even more vivid experience. You can use sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, triggering off emotions that may be nice ones or unpleasant. Using imagery, you can truly bring your writing to life.

Syntax

This is how you order your words, something that gives your writing rhythm. To do this, you can vary how long your sentences are – shorter ones speed things up while longer sentences slow things down, allowing the reader the chance to become more deeply involved.

In part 2, we will look at how tone affects your writing and then some tips on making your voice stronger.