Today, we excavate your voice.
Do you ever feel like everything you read online kind of sounds the same? It’s like we’re stuck in this echo chamber, and we just parrot each other’s words and ideas.
But I know without a doubt that you have something unique and exciting to say, even if it feels like it’s all been said before.
There is only one you.
Exercises to Help You Find Your Voice
Now let’s explore how we can excavate your voice from under the rubble of groupthink… with some fun writing and speaking exercises!
1. Write to your edge and then pull back.
In another Off The Charts episode, I shared with you the unconventional blog post writing trick I use to come up with great ideas and it involves getting pissed off. This tip for finding your voice is similar, except you can tap into any emotion.
For example, if you’re writing a sales letter you might write the most salesy slimy letter you could ever imagine. Then on your second pass through you could pull it back in and edit it to feel more in line with your truth.
Similarly, you could write the most gushy loving love letter ever, and then pull it back. Or write the most sad, angry, happy, or vulnerable post ever and edit to feel good about it.
It’s in the editing phase that you’ll find where you draw the line, and who you really are.
2. Play with different types of writing.
Start with story telling and fiction, practice writing how-to articles, or letters to friends. Each genre of writing will hone your voice in different ways. Even writing an email is helping you discover your voice and how you like to communicate.
You can play with dialogue in your how-to articles and make them more like stories. You can write letters to friends that have a clear beginning, middle, and end like an essay.
Play with different formats and see what calls to you.
3. Try “talk to text” and use your literal voice, then have it transcribed.
In finding your voice, there’s nothing quite like speaking your mind and seeing how it turns out on paper.
There are different ways to have your voice recorded and transcribed. I like to use software to transcribe recordings I make on my phone while I’m out for a walk with the dog. I’ve also used software to dictate while I was at the computer.
You can also have recordings transcribed by people for a good rate on Fiverr.com, or look for recommendations of transcription services online.
There’s nothing quite like capturing the genius of your thoughts right as they leave your mouth!
4. Practice making your meaning clear.
Being clever can backfire because no one will understand what you mean, especially when you’re trying to communicate something for business purposes.If you’re writing poetry you can be as cryptic and cute as you want, but if your message needs to land with someone then make sure it has the best chances by not using anything too mysterious.
There’s a saying that says “the confused mind always says no,” and that’s because if it’s not clear what the right next steps are, people walk away.
5. Write often, publish much, and take feedback with a grain of salt and a slice of cucumber.
There’s no substitute to practice when it comes to finding your voice. But beyond just practicing writing and speaking, you need to put your work out in front of real human beings. As much as your dog might love your ideas, you need to see how it is received.
That doesn’t mean that you need to publish everything that comes out of your mouth or fingers, but the more you can practice putting your voice out there and seeing people react to it, the more you will know where you stand. And the better you will get!
Time to practice finding your voice…
I hope this inspired you to get out there and write more vulnerably, try different styles, and truly speak your voice.
If you want a little extra practice, go ahead and leave a comment below with one thing you know is true about your business.
