Nov 6th, 2009
Finding my voice
As I start out on the path to becoming a blogger, I have been reading blog post after blog post… about blogging, desperate to find the post that would turn on the switch in my head, making me into an instant blogger. The switch hasn’t gone off yet, but I did come across a post from copyblogger that got me thinking.
“Get off your Computer and become a better Blogger” in short, emphasizes the importance of discovering your voice and style, which you can’t find sitting behind a computer.
“Start conversations with more people. Find the kind of jokes you like to tell. Listen to the rhythm of your voice as you speak. Pay attention to the way people react when you talk. Notice how they seem more interested when you speak in a certain way or when you discuss certain topics.”
Q: So then, why do I find this so difficult?
A: During the week, I am not writing with my voice.
My question to you, expert bloggers: How do you turn your voice on and off? Do you find that you blog the way you speak?
I’m sure I’ll find my way as time goes on, I just hope those who come across my blog will be patient as stumble along.
To read the entire post from copyblogger, click here.
Public relations and communications professional. Passionate about sports, photography, travel, friends and family. Minnesota native, looking for where life will take me next.
New blog post on Fri. nite probably not the smartest. Oh, well. Check it out: http://bit.ly/1Rf8vf "Finding my voice"
I feel your pain! I just started my own blog, too. Finding your voice is tough. But like you said, you’ll eventually find it down the line. For me (and I’m no expert), I like to write down short thoughts throughout the week on a digital post-it about something I think I’ll want to write a full post about later. It makes it a little easier to put together a natural sounding post when I put together my initial thoughts. Make sense? Maybe not. But good luck on your blogging venture – look forward to reading more!
Hi Katie,
The digital post-it idea is a great one. Another thing I worry about is having enough new things to write about, since frequency is a huge part of being a successful blogger. Thanks for the tip!
I’ve visited your blog a few times and it looks great. Sorry we didn’t say hello at #smbmsp, but maybe the next one.
Have a great weekend!
–Kristin
RT @kristingast New blog post on Fri. nite probably not the smartest. Oh, well. Check it out: http://bit.ly/1Rf8vf "Finding my voice"
Read poetry!
Seriously. I think a lot of finding your writing voice is developing the ability to LISTEN to language.
Poetry is meant to be read aloud; it’s meant to be heard. Studying it forces you to listen to language.
I also recommend reading fiction and studying how writers convey dialog; how they write to make it sound like spoken language. Two of the best at this, I think, are Ernest Hemingway and Harlan Ellison.
Lastly, I try and write as I would speak. I write the way I think I would speak it, were I talking. I hear my voice in my head as I’m writing.
I think you’re off to a great start!
Just find something to write about that reflects you and is interesting to the world at large. I read a blog post the other day that began, “I had a great bowel movement today.”
That is NOT what the world needs from bloggers.
Dave – I may have to come in your office and borrow a book of poetry, as you know I don’t have any. The recommendation doesn’t fall on deaf ears, just hesitant ones
I should probably talk out loud as I write my blog posts to have them read like spoken language.
Britney – I can’t believe you saw a post about that! In designing my blog, I didn’t choose a narrow focus, as I do want to be interesting and relevant to more people. That can be problematic, as I want regular readers to consistently find value no matter the topic. Thanks for reading and for the advice! It is quite likely that I am way overthinking this
One thing I plan on doing to determine the type of content people find interesting is to run the links to my posts through bit.ly before sending them to my various networks. Though obviously not a complete way to measure peoples interest in your posts, you can at least know how many people clicked on the links and what topics gained the most intrigue.
Another fun byproduct, if you post unique bit.ly links to each network you can see which of your networks generate the most clicks.
I like what you’ve done so far though. Building a blog is definitely a process, but you’re doing a good job.
Just here to leave a mark
Minnesota Monday – Communications Bloggers Posts From Last Week…
Interesting posts from Minnesota communications bloggers for the week ending 11/08/09.
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Minnesota Monday – Communications Bloggers Posts From Last Week…
Interesting posts from Minnesota communications bloggers for the week ending 11/08/09.
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Hey there Kristin,
The good news is it’s something every blogger goes through – even the “experienced ones”
Of course, this doesn’t help in the interim. So, just in case any help, here are some things I do:
1. Read less blogs. Yep, LESS. Sometimes we can get swept up into reading so many blogs to see what we want to write about, we can lose track of what we want to say. Don’t make it easy to cloud your thoughts and have less to think about – can often work wonders!
2. When you do read another blog, try and think of ways that you’d view it differently. It doesn’t have to be opposing or argumentative, either – just think of how you might do things differently, and write about that.
3. Take in the world around you, and make up life stories for characters that may or may not exist. Look at people in the coffee house; on the bus/train; in the library; at the ball game. Think of what they might do, what lives they might lead – and grab inspiration from that. Just because you like PR or social media (or any niche, really) doesn’t mean you always have to write about it. Humanity offers the biggest inspiration for storytelling every day – may as well use natural resources.
There are a ton of ways to find “your voice”; try them all. Some will work, some won’t – but as long as you’re having fun along the way (and most importantly, are PASSIONATE about the topic whatever it may be), you will find your blogging groove.
Good luck, and look forward to seeing how you evolve!
Thanks for reading, Danny, and for the great comment. I am especially surprised by your recommendation to read less blogs. I have found myself reading significantly MORE now that I have started blogging, but I am even more confused than ever about topics, voice, etc.
I agree that I do need to step away from the computer and experience real life more often, in fact, I think many people do
Finding inspiration in the world around me is something that I am not particularly skilled at (whether it is for blogging, photography, etc.) but I am trying to develop that skill.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, and I hope you’ll provide feedback as I continue to progress!
Hi Kristen,
I just started my blog at the end of September and I think that best way to find my voice is to blog often. I have 91 blog postings so far. I try to do at least one blog posting a day but really aim to do three at day. I find that the more you do something the better you get at it. I am also an architect and an artist and people often ask me how to draw or say they wish they knew how to draw. I tell them the best way is just to start drawing it and do it often. In order to be good at sketching, you have to do it everyday, and you have to do it a lot everyday.
I also think it is good not to “over-think” things. That is why I have the goal of having three blog posts a day. When I am going for quantity, I know that I will be putting a lot of content on my site, therefore not over-thinking just one post. That way not every single post is going to be a golden nugget, but I am bound to have a few hits at least a few times a week.
Hopefully along the way I am having fun and finding my true voice. Judy
I think that is great advice, for me especially. I tend to over-think A LOT, including planning new blog posts. In order to up my frequency, and get more familiar with blogging, I need to be better at the short posts and commentary on stories or trends, rather than original posts every time.
Thanks for reading and the advice, once again!