The Most Valuable Asset a Writer Can Own? (You Already Have it)

In 2024, more than ever, you must sound like YOU. If your writing doesn't stand out as uniquely you, its value will trend to zero.

The more generic and ChatGPT text sounds, the more anyone (or any program) can write it.

In order to build the value of your words, you must first build your voice. And don't worry, you can do this in English even if it's not your first language. You can still sound like YOU.

What is writing voice?

Well, there's no one agreed-upon definition. For me, it's different to 'writing style'. The elements of style are functional (e.g. sentence length and structure), whereas 'voice' encompasses the decisions you make in order express ideas in a unique way.

• Pronoun use and register (formality)
• Word/phrase choice
• Habits of punctuation/formatting
• The ‘angle’ or ‘frame’ for the piece
• Rhetorical/persuasive techniques
• Cultural references and background

Why is voice important?

Style helps you deliver appropriate text which fits the brief.

Voice allows you to build readership and authority. It attracts readers to return for your next post, story, or article. Plus, it marks you as an author with a valuable opinion or skill set.

Against the backdrop of budget cuts and companies 'investing' in machine-generated content instead of personnel, voice is the last line of defence for writers. If you can successfully develop your voice, it allows you to remain relevant in a world of generic content. It allows you to keep earning. Oh, and it's THE biggest factor in attracting new clients or getting hired.

How to develop your writing voice: 3 ways

1. Word/phrase choice

Choose unique words - ones which convey the right meaning but are stronger (or at least more engaging).

e.g. choose 'favourable', 'worthy', 'ship-shape', or 'deluxe' over 'good'

Employ slightly incongruous words

e.g. Have a spiffing weekend

or 'If I was tasked with expressing this powerful idea using only one single word, it would be ‘rad’'

Invent portmanteaus -

e.g. supertastic, fantabulous

Adapt idioms

e.g. Kill two businesses with one stone

sprang up like a cat hearing the automatic feeder

Use unique greetings in your messages

e.g. Greetings from Groningen / That’s all I have for now.

2. Use your own cultural background

I'm from Britain, which means I like to use the following ideas and tropes: sarcasm, self-deprecation, royalty, tea-drinking, bad weather, colonialism (being bad), the dominance of English language, medieval history, weird cultural traditions (like Morris Dancing), UK businesses / brand names, bad food, typical flora and fauna - e.g. daisies and badgers.

Which aspects of your own culture can you add into your writing?

People, events, places, images, expressions from L1 (translated), traditions, dances, clothes.

3. Using humour

Funniness is an increasingly important differentiator between human and AI text.

Use in-jokes, puns, memes, deliberate inconsistency or factual incorrectness, anachronisms, odd tangents, over precision, ridiculously superfluous words, or exaggeration.

Check out even more humour techniques here and attend my upcoming chat with writing funny-man Claudio Butticé .

Do not ignore the voice inside you (especially if it's telling you to like and comment on this article).

Keep developing your valuable voice by publishing in a safe space. You can be brave with digital writing - it can be edited or removed.

Share opinions on forums, in messages, in your published work, on social media (e.g. in the comments section below!)

Build your voice over time.

Make your writing sound more like you.

Readers will thank you for it (and you'll attract far more opportunities).

Writer of the Month - Flogerta L.

???? Hello, my name is Flogerta, which means GOLDEN FLAMES and here's what I'm going to do about your website and your business:

First, I'm going to research, plan, and write for you GOLDEN star articles.

Secondly, I'm going to burn in FLAMES all those AI ranking blog posts out there and rank you at the top.

So much so that even Google will be happy to rank and index my articles.

1. Do you want Content Planning for the next three months, detailed to the T? You've got it!

2. Keyword Research and SEO-optimised posts on your Social Media or Website? You've got it.

3. Or perhaps you want articles that provide true value in alignment with your business vision?

You know the drill.Curious about all my certifications and skills?

Check my LinkedIn page and ask for my CV or portfolio. The list of my qualifications is so long that I won’t bother you with their names but I’ll put them to good use when I finish your project for you.

Go from 0-$1,000 by Selling High-Demand Writing Skills

I’ve earned $1,000+ writing in these ways??

• Winning writing competitions
• Publishing in magazines
• Writing on Medium
• Self-publishing
• Ghostwriting
• Proofreading
• Editing jobs
• Book sales

Of course, some of these are core services (and I earn much more than $1k), while others are additional income.

Writers must build diverse income streams, but it’s not as hard as you think.

You need, skill and perseverance, industry know-how, and the support of others.

Last week, I launched the Zero to $1,000 Challenge in the Multilingual Writers’ Community

The challenge offers help and guidance to make your first thousand by writing in a new way.(This is income additional to your usual activities or job)

Some of the MWC members have already reached this target many times over (I can’t wait to share some of their stories with you).

When we get there, we make the next thousand quicker, or launch something new to diversify.

If you are looking to scale your writing business $1k at a time, join us.

You'll get access to the challenge, the help of 60+ writing experts, and a whole lot of memes.

Thanks for reading. See you next month.

If you find my monthly newsletter useful, why not join the 1,840 multilingual writers who've signed up to my mailing list? No spam. No bullshirt. I'll just send you one cool writing tip every two weeks (and you'll get my 31-page eBook How to Become a Proficient English Writer completely free). Join here.