Reading and finding your voice

I’ve met a few aspiring writers who refuse to read other people’s work because they don’t want to lose their authentic voice. But you’re not born with an authentic voice. You develop your voice based on the best expression of your values and personality right now.

You can even commit to becoming a certain kind of writer (wanting to be more whimsical, for example) and that aspiration remains authentic because it’s you who has chosen the kind of writer you want to be and the writing you want to produce.

Imitating someone else means you’re trying to be just like them, which often means you’re dismissing what is original in you. You are abandoning your own qualities to be like someone else. That’s not being authentic.

But exposing yourself to different kinds of writing and developing your writing skills doesn’t compromise your authenticity. It refines your craft and your ability to express yourself more fully.

Are you concerned about losing your authentic voice? Do you feel like you’ve already discovered it?