I have a confession to make.

A guilty pleasure, really.

I like Donny Osmond. Actually, his voice. I love his voice. I think it’s the best male singing voice of all time.

I know, I know. It’s a stiff competition—Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Michael Bublè. So why would I love Donny above all of them?

I don’t know! I just do. Maybe because I love Broadway tunes, and he has a perfect voice for that. Perhaps because I saw him in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” musical as a teenager and he was pretty cute in his loin cloth.

Whatever the reason, I like his voice. It’s distinct. When you hear it, you know it’s him.

The same is true for any singer you like. As soon as you hear the first note, that person’s voice is unique and you know it’s him or her.

The same is also true for writers.

Your voice as a writer should be distinct. Unique. It should be you. When people read the first line of your novel, your aura should be in every syllable. When readers pick up one of your works, they should think, “Oh, I love this author—I can’t wait to read this!” Having a distinctive voice in writing allows readers to get to know you. To fall in love with you and your words.

Think of your favorite author. What is his or her “voice” like? Are they encouraging? Mystifying? Informative? Does she make you feel good? Does he have a way with words like no other author you’ve ever read? How does her personality come across on the printed page?

One of my clients and dear friends is the talented and successful “Hands Free Mama.” She has a very unique voice in her writing. I can distinguish her writing from all others by one sentence. She writes beautiful lyrical sentences, almost like poetry. Her words flow with emotion and encouragement.

With Beth Vogt’s first novel, To Catch a Falling Star, I was captivated by her voice. Her upbeat dialogue, quirky sentences, and humorous lines had me laughing out loud as I read. Although I’ve read many contemporary romances, her voice distinguishes her from other novelists.

Adelle Gabrielson, a boy mom who writes about motherhood and the need for great shoes, also has a unique voice. Snarky and fun. Authentic and honest. I love to read her writing, because it not only encourages me, but it relaxes me, soothes my soul, and helps me realize “we’re all this parenting thing together.”

Think about your favorite bloggers, authors, novelists, magazine writers. Why do you love them? What is unique about their writing that when you turn the page, you know the words are theirs?

Find that distinctness and uniqueness in your writing. Write down adjectives that you think describe your writing or that you’d like your writing to be. Allow a group of readers to help you define your voice so that can be consistent in your tone, your message, and your voice in your writing.

Your voice is your personality on the printed page.
Find your personality and let it shine!

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