Advice for writers is everywhere-- this article included. However, while writing is an incredibly complex and intricate art the key to doing it successfully is altogether too simple. To write well the one thing that will most benefit you is this: being authentic. It’s a well-known fact that those who read often have a better chance at being astute writers but between that and the notion that one should write to please an audience it can be difficult to stay true to one’s own voice. When it comes to advice, and the influence of writers whom we admire, it is best to allow our work to be inspired by those things rather than to have it be emulations of them. Finding one’s voice, like any creative process, is best done by listening to what feels most natural for you as an individual.

It’s easy to get caught up in the anxiety of wondering whether or not people will enjoy your work but ultimately your writing will be at its best when it is something that you yourself can be excited by. If your ideas inspire you they will likely reach someone else as well. Write for yourself first. You are, after all, the only person who will write exactly the way that you do. Language is a beautiful thing in that it is massively fluid. When you write using your own voice rather than trying to sound like anyone else you are creating a uniqueness to your work that cannot be precisely replicated. And, trying to replicate anyone else will only serve to making your work sound inauthentic.

That all being said, understand that just as one would speak differently for different situations so too should one adjust their writing for given circumstances. Learning to do so without abandoning what makes your writing unique and true to your voice is something that will get you far in honing your skills. Nothing is worse than writing that sounds canned or artificial. Even though your readers may not know you personally, they should feel as if they do after having read your work.

Ultimately, as trite as the sentiment seems, it truly is a greatly important thing to remain true to yourself in any creative endeavor. Creativity is nothing without a voice behind it-- so make sure that when you create something your voice is truly yours. Along the way you will discover what it works for you, what doesn’t, and who you are as a writer. Write often and with conviction and your work will reward itself.