We often hear about a writer’s voice, but it can feel abstract. Here’s a simple way to understand it and bring it to life.

A WRITER'S VOICE

A writer’s voice is generally defined as the style and tone that’s consistent throughout a work.

But a recent article by Austin Kleon got me thinking about how voice might not be as simple as that.

Kleon talks about how we all have three voices:

Thinking voice – the fast, internal chatter of your mind.

Speaking voice – how you sound when you talk aloud.

Writing voice – how you express yourself on the page.

These voices don’t always say the same thing. In fact, they frequently are in what Kleon calls "a weird dance with each other".

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE THREE VOICES

Since reading the article, I’ve been paying attention to how my voices interact:

- - Thinking voice: Fast! I meditate to slow it down and am shocked at how many layers of thoughts run simultaneously.
  - Writing voice: Methodical and deliberate, but often verbose. My writing improves when I let my thinking voice edit.
  - Speaking voice: Always trying to keep up with my thinking voice. But when I talk through a story aloud, suddenly all three voices synchronize. Some of my best work comes from this “dance.”

Perhaps the key to a strong writer’s voice is to employ all three voices together.

This week, pay attention to your three voices. Notice how they interact:

- - Observe your voices. Which work well together? Which clash?
  - Talk through your story aloud. Let your speaking voice mediate between thinking and writing.
  - Read or act your story out. Incorporate your physical voice with gestures, inflection, tone.

Notice what changes when you use all three voices. How does it affect clarity, rhythm, or style?

Finally, share your discoveries in the comments! You never know what insights you might spark in someone else.