Write With Your Voice {Write Blog Posts People Will Read Series}+ A Little R & R Linky Party #56

This is part one of a 5-part series on how to write blog posts people will read.Write with your voiceUse an awesome titleCreate pinable imagesWrite great contentUse a call to action So, you have your vision and mission. You know what you plan to write about and have chosen a platform.
Now you need to write.
I actually used to think that if I posted an article, people would magically find my blog and read what I wrote. If only it were that easy!
Now, I have no grand illusions about my ability to write. I know that I am nowhere close to being a great writer. I have never taken a class in journalism or any other form of writing  
(except for one class in songwriting that never helped me a bit, since I’ve only ever written one good song).
However, I have read a lot on the subject. A lot . I love writing  and so I read up on the subject as much as I can, and still continue to learn.
If you go back and read some of my earlier posts, you will likely see a completely different style of writing from what you would read today. I have really grown as a writer over the 4 ½ years I’ve been blogging.
Blogging, and having my articles read by perfect strangers all around the world – some of which are far better writers than I, has forced me improve my craft.  And I’ll simply share with you what I’ve learned from the experts and how it is has helped to shape me as a writer.
Write With Your Voice
This is a term that literally got on my nerves. In fact, at one point I actually planned to blog about how annoyed I was about the term “find your own voice”. It was like a mantra that rang out in the blogosphere for a while.  And while there is a lot of truth to the term, one thing many writers failed to share was how to find your voice.
I suppose that’s what annoyed me most of all. They gave you this command, but didn’t give you the tools to carry it out. I didn’t know how to find my voice. I didn’t know what my current voice was and I wasn’t sure I’d know that I’d found the right one if it bit me on the nose!
But I did find it – albeit it took me a while to realize that’s what it was.
So what is a “voice” and how to you find your own voice?
A voice is a style of writing that is unique to you. It is your personality on page. It helps the reader to connect with you and recognize you when they read your writing.  Examples are Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience. When you read her writings you weep. You can’t help but to weep. She has a style that is uniquely hers that carries the reader on a wave of unbelievable emotion. Another example is Ree Drummond from The Pioneer Woman.  She is witty and sarcastic. She calls her husband “Marlboro Man” and you can instantly recognize her articles/recipes by her style of writing.
This is a voice.  Whew!That was the easy part.
Finding your voice is not easy. I won’t lie.
It took me a lot of time to find my style of writing. And while the experts will tell you not to copy others’ voices – I actually think that this is an important part of the process.
I will compare it to singing – because the two are actually very similar.
While developing my own style of singing, I surrounded myself with tons of CDs by my favorite artists. I chose a lot of variety – based on color and texture: Margaret Becker's signature rock voice, Twila Paris’ gentle ballads, Sandi Patty’s powerful classical style – and I would literally lay in bed with my headphones on and listen to every nuance, every riff, every note that was sung and I studied how they were sung. Then I tried it all on to see if I could master it. 
This is when I learned that as much as I love gritty 80's rock, I simply cannot do it. I was not made for that. And while I soar with Sandi Patty’s and Sarah Brightman’s voices, I am not made for that. My voice is folk-ballad.
But I would have never discovered that about myself without trying and failing at other styles.
The same is with writing.
I tried the witty-sarcasm and it came off as forced and sometimes even cynical.  Fail
I copied the “Wordless Wednesday” train….and discovered that a photographer I am not.  Although I did learn a lot about taking pictures with my point-and-shoot in the process. I just can’t compete with those who have cool equipment.
Then I jumped on the “natural living” bandwagon. Once I had exhausted the limited knowledge I have on that subject and shared my recipes (which are pretty much set in stone now), I ran out of stuff to write about. So I compiled it into a free eBook and said goodbye to that subject.
But overall I discovered that I love to encourage women. Whether its with a recipe, a craft idea, blog tip, Bible study - I just love encouraging women!
This is where I write  from the very depths of me, bare my  heart, lay it wide open…
…when I read what I write, I cry. Not because I think I’m such a great writer that I move myself to tears….but because I know that when I write about this, I literally feel like God reaches through my fingers and writes through me. There are times when I literally feel embarrassed at taking the credit for my work, because I know full well that what was written was way better than me. That in fact, it wasn’t me writing -  but God. And that is what moves me.
I have never felt this sensation with any other style of writing. And that’s my voice.
You may feel that excitement with sharing mommy-advice, homeschooling, talking about photography or DIYs – and when you feel that, work it. Find a style of writing on that subject that is unique to you. 
Do you do well with wit? 
Incorporate it. 
Do you crafts stories with your words? Do that. 
Try out different styles and find where you're most comfortable and what engages your readers the most and you’ve found your voice.
Catch up on all the articles in this series

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 And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"

1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!

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