Continuing our discussion on writing voice, Know More Media Editor and author of VinylNotes, Kimberlee Morrison reflects on her own voice and the importance of utilizing individual strengths to cultivate a writing voice.
Yesterday Easton started this week’s series on writing voices. I began thinking about my voice and what it was; what was my written personality so to speak. I went back and read a few of my articles, past and present. One thing I discovered is that depending on what I'm writing about, that voice may vary. I also realized that I thought being a journalist meant that you didn't have a voice; instead you used the voices of others to tell the story. Blogging over the last few years has taught me that journalists have voices too.
So what does my writing voice sound like? It's very much like my personality: a little dry, a tad witty, occasionally sarcastic, often descriptive and usually authoritative. I have learned that to establish myself as an opinion leader, I must be sure about my opinion and convince others that I am correct. This is not an easy task, especially when writing about culture, music and arts. There is a fine balance between asserting you are correct and insulting your reader. I'm not always successful walking that line.
When writing on subjects I'm not particularly interested in or knowledgeable about, this is when I find my writing is most dry and uninspired. Since I know this about myself, I use those challenging times as a chance to become a better writer. Can I hide my disinterest in the subject in order write an article that is informative and engaging?
Very early on, I noticed that Know More Media authors each have their own individual styles and voices with one constant almost across the board. Most - if not all - KMM authors use an authoritative voice. I imagine that each person's writing voice is also indicative of their personality. This is definitely true of the authors I've met in person.
Blogging is certainly the kind of writing in which people are able to see your personality; it tends to be personable and candid. It also forces you to develop a strong voice. With so much noise on the Internet, your voice has to be distinct and somewhat unique to cut through.
A blogger also has the challenge of being a better writer than average. We are always under scrutany regarding whether or not we are a trustworthy source, do we know what we're talking about and whether or not we are a viable alternative to traditional news mediums. That's a lot of pressure.The upside is that we can usually stand more firmly on our opinions instead of gleaning authority from others.
What does your voice sound like? What are your strengths? What is your weakness?
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