Have you ever been cruising Facebook, commenting on your friends’ posts, watching the occasional sea otter video (you’ve got to check out those baby sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium) when you randomly click a link and land on a new webpage, sales page or blog post? You start reading and within a minute or less, you turn a pale shade of green and think, “Damn! I wish my copy sounded like that!”
There’s something about that copy. It sparkles. It shines. It’s full of sass, spirit and spunk. It’s got that “something extra,” something unnameable, that pulls you in, holds your attention and makes you want to keep reading.
What IS that magical, mysterious ingredient that has you so entranced and ever-so-slightly jealous?
It’s the writer’s voice. The unique way that writer communicates and uses words to deliver his or her message.
Sure, there are a lot of other factors that may be contributing the mesmerizing quality of that copy. Like… the way the writer teases you with yummy benefits. Or tells a story you can immediately relate to. Or promises to tell you something you’re dying to hear.
But throughout the copy, there’s an energy. A spirit. A tone. A rhythm. And a way in which the words hit the page that is captivating, even delightful. And powerful.
That is the writer’s voice.
And in this noisy online world where everyone and his kid sister has something to say (or even sell), and we’re being constantly bombarded with emails and posts and messages and copy every bloody minute, you need a way to stand out, rise above that noise, capture the attention of those who need what you’ve got to offer.
One way to do this is with a unique and irresistible message.
And an additional way is by discovering, liberating and expressing your own wildly unique voice. So that all of your copy has that “something special” that keeps your readers entranced.
“Shoot! How the bloody heck am I supposed to do that?” you may ask.
Well, here are 3 ways to start developing your own unique voice in your writing.
Pull a “Billy Joel”
Did you know that Billy Joel has never considered himself to be a good singer?
He’s always thought of himself as a good imitator of singers, but not a particularly good singer himself.
Which amazes me, since he can sing like nobody’s business and has such a distinct, recognizable and expressive voice.
But maybe it was by imitating other singers that Billy Joel developed his own unique voice. Perhaps, by mimicking the singers he admired, he unwittingly liberated his own one-of-a-kind voice?
Some of the greatest writers have done the same thing. As an exercise, they will imitate or emulate the writing style and voice of those writers they admire most. Not to “steal” from those writers or become a second-rate imitation. But to learn, to play, to explore. And in the process, develop their own unique writing voice.
So, why can’t you do the same thing?
Make a list of 3-5 writers/bloggers/entrepreneurs whose writing you love to read. Then, before you start writing your own copy, read something from one of those writers. Just to get you inspired.
As you start writing, see if you can “imitate” the style of that writer. Don’t try to imitate sentence structure or expressions or anything like that. And never steal their words! No, you just want to write with a similar attitude, energy and tone.
It’s as if you’re trying on clothes… clothes you may not normally wear. Just to see what it feels like, how they fit and if they inspire you.
Like Billy Joel, you may find that by trying on the style of writers you love, you’ll uncover your own distinct, natural and powerful voice.
Write Like the Wind
The best way to liberate your own wild voice is to give it lots of room and permission to roam and roar! How? By writing fast, non-stop and with absolutely no attachment to the end result.
Do this as often as you can. And right before you start writing anything for your biz:
Set a timer for 10 minutes and start writing. Write anything. Whatever comes to mind. Write with paper and pen if you can, simply because this tends to be less restrictive and more connected to your heart, your guts, your true voice.
Write like the wind! Don’t stop until the timer goes off. Don’t use punctuation. Don’t give a rip about grammar. Just write whatever wants to spill out onto the page, whatever comes into your mind.
If you get stuck and no words want to come, just write “and, and, and, and…” until the next thought arises.
Remember, you’re not looking for a pretty end result or some bolt of insight or enlightenment. You’re just providing a big field in which to let your wild voice run.
Write Like You Talk
Oh, I bet you’ve heard this a million times! When you write copy, you want to write like you talk… as if you’re having a one-to-one conversation with your reader.
In other words, you want your copy to be conversational. Casual. And friendly. And 100% you. And the best way to do that is to write like you talk.
This is also one of the best ways to connect with and express your own wild writing voice. Rather than imitate other writers (as in the Billy Joel method), imitate yourself! Imitate the way you naturally talk and converse.
For instance, do you always talk in full sentences? I doubt it.
Do you tend to use certain exclamations when you talk, like “rats!” “darn tootin’!” and “super cool?” (yeah… you probably don’t use any of those, but you know what I mean.) Well, use those in your copy!
Do you always use proper sentence structure and avoid ending a sentence with a preposition when you talk? No way. So, don’t do that when you write. It’s okay. Really.
The next time you write something, read it and ask, “Does this sound like me?” Or give it to someone who knows you and ask them if it sounds like you. If not, you need to loosen up and give your natural voice more free rein.
I’m telling you, one of the best ways to engage, interest and connect with your ideal clients is to put more of YOU in your copy. More of your personality, energy and natural way of communicating.
More of your unique, wild voice.
Oh, how I wish every English teacher on the face of the earth had taught us all how to write from our core, our gut, our heart with a wild abandon, with the sheer joy of using words express our truth, before we were taught there is a wrong and right way to write. All those stupid rules. They locked your voice into a cage of sentence structure, grammar and the desire to get a decent grade.
Well, it’s time to let that voice out of the cage and onto the page!
Start with these 3 tips and let me know how it goes. And if you need some help or encouragement, you know where to find me. I’d love to help you liberate your wild, unique voice.