How To Free Your Writing Voice: Learn How To Write Natural, Helpful Content

How I learned to free my voice and let the words flow

I’ve been procrastinating writing this blog for a while. When I created my 2025 content plan, I decided that this blog on freeing your writing voice would be my first of the year.

This is probably the most challenging piece of content I’ve ever written.

How can I tell you how to find your writing voice? What do I know about you, what you’re writing, and your audience? How can I help you find your writing voice without knowing you? 

But here we are, and I’ve given it my best shot. I pushed forward with this blog because, of all the blogs I have planned for 2025, this one is foundational to writing great content.

If you don’t understand voice and how to communicate it, you cannot write great content. It’s that simple.

My goal with this blog is to help you find your voice, free it, and bring it to your words.

What Is Voice?

Voice is your unique style and personality. Voice helps people connect with your content.

Voice is shaped by the words you use.

For example, compare these two writing examples. Both are the first paragraph of an email sent to customers of a technology company:

Example 1:
Dear Valued Stakeholder,

It has come to our attention that recent developments necessitate the implementation of procedural modifications within our operational framework. In light of these considerations, we hereby wish to formally apprise you of the impending adjustments that will take effect forthwith.

Example 2:
Hi [Name],

I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to take a moment to let you know about a few updates to our processes that will be rolling out soon. These changes are designed to make things smoother and more efficient for everyone, and I wanted to give you a quick overview so you’re in the loop.

I don’t know about you, but I was lost halfway through the first sentence of Example 1. I struggled to read it and got a bit stressed about the changes.

But with Example 2, I felt supported and confident that if I had any questions or concerns, I could contact the company about the changes.

This is the power of voice. How you use words determines how people react, respond, and process your content. 

Each and every time you sit down to write, you need to think about voice. 

Whether you’re writing content for a B2B product page, a blog for your personal website, or a newsletter for your CEO–the voice determines how people respond to the content. 

Authority. Trust. Compassion. Support. Loyalty. Empathy. Expertise. Knowledge. Vibe. All of this is controlled by voice.

It’s Time to Stop Fighting With Words

You might be thinking, “Hmm, easy for you to say, Vicki, this is what you do every day. You’re a writer. This comes naturally to you.”

I get it. I understand. I feel the same way about drawing. I just started a drawing class and before the class even started I thought, “Why bother? I’m not great at drawing. It doesn’t come naturally to me.”

But here’s the thing, I know that with practice and a few tips and tricks, I can become a good artist or sketcher. I likely won’t become a professional artist, but I can become good enough at drawing to enjoy it. 

This takes practice. I know I’ll have to work at it. And remind myself not to expect perfection from the beginning.

The same holds true for you and writing. You might not become a professional writer like me. But you can learn how to write easily and freely, so that your voice comes through. 

Just as I’m learning how to not grip the pencil too tight, you can learn how to stop fighting with words and let them flow.

How To Find Your Voice and Bring It To Everything You Write

Before we get started, I want you to remember to give yourself grace. You are learning. 

Okay, ready? Let’s go. We’ll start with answering a few questions about the who, what, and why of your writing:

1. Who Are You?
   Are you writing the opening keynote for your AGM? Are you writing a blog for your company website? Are you a marketing person tasked with writing a sales deck for your VP of sales? Are you a solopreneur trying to write your monthly newsletter and draft some LinkedIn posts?
   
   You need to know who you are supposed to be. Who are you?
   
   Think about who your audience wants to hear from.
   
   
2. Who Is Your Audience?
   Who has the problems, concerns, challenges, needs, that you can solve and help alleviate?
   
   For example, I know that the people reading my blogs are typically people who want to become better writers, are looking for ways to make writing easier, or want tips and advice on how to better communicate with their customers. 
   
   This means that most people reading my blogs don’t have a writing background, are entrepreneurs, or have been tasked with writing the company blog or newsletter. 
   
   (Of course, I could be totally wrong here.. And if I am, send me an email and tell me about yourself and what you want to learn from my blogs and website.)
   
   
3. Why Are You Writing For Your Audience?
   Great content needs a why–a purpose. This helps you narrow your content and focus on providing real value.
   
   Are you providing educational information about your niche or domain? Do people have questions about how your product or service can benefit them? Are you trying to differentiate yourself from your competitors? Are you sharing some news about a new product or service?
   
   What is the purpose of the thing you’re writing about?
   
   
4. What Is The So What Of Your Content?
   So what do you want me to do after reading your newsletter, blog, company homepage, or LinkedIn post?
   
   So what do you want me to feel after reading your content?
   
   For example, when you’ve finished reading this blog, I want you to feel empowered and encouraged to sit down and write. I want you to feel confident that you can free your voice and bring it to your content. 
   

Great! Now it’s time to write. Yes, you’re ready. You know who you are, who your audience is, why you’re writing, and what you want them to do next.

1. Open a new Word or Google document.
   
   
2. Picture one person in your audience.
   
   
3. Imagine you’re talking to them about the why and so what of your content.
   
   
4. Write down exactly what you hear in your head.
   
   
5. Do not edit. Do not delete. Just write. Get it out. 
   
   
6. Keep going. Tell your person everything they need to know. Think about the questions they would ask you and write down your answers.
   
   
7. If you lose focus or get off track, circle back to the so what. How can you get them to the next step? What do they need to know?
   
   
8. Get it all out of your head and onto the page.
   
   
9. Now, save your document. And leave it alone until tomorrow.
   
   Go do other things, respond to emails, attend meetings, take a shower, walk the dog, unpack the dishwasher. 
   
   
10. Be ready for the magic to happen. Get ready for the lightbulb.
    
    Did you feel it? You were in the shower, standing under the steaming hot water, when all of a sudden, the ideas started flowing.
    
    Words were filling your head. Entire sentences and paragraphs. 
    
    
11. Towel off, put some clothes on (or don’t–this is a judgement-free zone), and sit down at your computer. Relax.
    
    And let those shower sentences come back to you. Don’t panic. They’re in there. They just need space.
    
    Nothing? Stand up, walk around your office, look out the window (use caution if you’re not wearing any clothes).
    
    
12. Aha! The sentences are back. Sit down and type. Let them come.
    
    Yes, your lips are moving. You might even be talking to yourself. It’s okay. Just type.
    
    
13. Have your conversation with your person. Talk to your audience.
    
    Tell them what they need to know, be helpful, use natural language, just like you would in a conversation with them.
    
    
14. Give yourself a little smile. You did it. You set your voice free. Feels good ‘eh?
    
    

Congratulations. You sat down and you freed your voice. You let it come through.

You wrote some great content. Content that helps. Content that connects, educates, and supports your audience.

I knew you could do it. Way to go.

Ah, but what about SEO, keywords, search intent, E-E-A-T, Google, and LLMs? How does all of this fit in when I’m freeing my voice and letting loose on the page?

Good questions! I’m glad you asked. This shows that you care about your readers and understand that standing out takes more than just words.. 

Here’s the thing that most content writers and strategists don’t want you to know…

When you write about what you know, i.e. your specialized subject matter, and you know who you’re writing for–you naturally use the words, language, keywords, and phrases that your audience uses when searching Google, Perplexity, or ChatGPT. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a blog about Taylor Swift for young concertgoers or you’re writing about revenue operations for CFOs and CTOs–when you know who, what, and why–you use the right words (keywords, search queries) and you get the voice (authority, trust) correct. 

And this is how you write relatable, helpful, human content on any topic for any audience. 

Keywords, search intent, and SEO do matter. We need to know what questions people are asking and how they’re phrasing their questions. 

But trust me when I tell you that if you truly understand your subject matter, who is reading it, and what they need to know, you naturally create content that uses the right keywords, addresses search intent, and is trusted by machines and humans. 

TL;DR Just Tell Me How I Can Find My Writing Voice

You. This is what people want from your content. 

Your personality. Your experiences and perspective. Your insights. 

This is the secret sauce behind great content. 

This is how you stand out in the overwhelm of cookie-cutter content. By being you.

More than any other time, this must be your constant in everything you write, say, and do:

Be yourself, everyone else is taken.

Know who you are.
Know who you’re writing for.
Know why you’re writing what you’re writing.
Know what you want people to do next.

Tell this story. Write down what you would tell me about the thing that you want me to know about so I’ll go do what you want me to do next.

Use those words. Use that same emotion. 

You can do it. I know it. Trust yourself. Trust your voice. Free it. 

I’m here to talk about your words, your website, and how I can help your clients find and trust you.

Let’s talk about your words and how I can help you.

If you have any questions or want me to review your blogs, website, social posts, or other content, send me an email. I’m always happy to help you out.