Finding Your Unique Voice
The End of Imitation
Alright, let's talk about something that plagues almost every poet, whether they're slinging sonnets or dabbling in free verse – finding their own voice. We've all been there, haven't we? We read someone who blows our minds and we think, "I want to write like that". We try on their style like a borrowed coat, and for a while, it might feel good. You might even get a couple of nice comments from people. But here’s the truth – imitation will only ever get you so far.
Because here’s the rub - trying to replicate someone else's voice is like trying to breathe through someone else's lungs. It might sort of work, but it will never be natural. And if you have been writing for a while, and you still feel like you are aping the styles of others, it's time for a serious reset.
The problem is, there's no magic formula to finding your voice. It’s not like ordering it on Amazon, or using an AI tool. There's no app that will tell you what you need to do. It's a process, a journey of self-discovery, and yes, it can be a pain in the neck. You have to pull the thread of what you find interesting and see where it goes.
But it's also the most rewarding part of being a poet.
So, How Do We Get There?
First, stop imitating! Seriously, ditch the coat. Acknowledge where your influences lie and then do everything you can to not sound like them. Read deeply, and widely, but then take it all in and allow it to flow through your unique experiences. This is not about deliberately doing the opposite of what you have learned; it is about taking what you have learned and making it your own.
Here's the process that works for me:
Look Inward: What are you really interested in? What moves you? What makes you angry? Don’t just chase the topics that appear popular, write about what you really feel. Your most authentic voice will come from genuine emotions, not from the ones that you think you should be having.
Experiment With Style: Try all kinds of things. Mix free verse with sonnets, or try making prose poems if that isn’t your normal mode. If you are a rhyming poet, try abandoning it for a while and allow yourself to feel that discomfort. If you are a prose poet, try to explore the challenges of structure. Even the bad stuff can be useful if it provides a route to something better.
Listen to Your Natural Rhythm: Pay attention to how your thoughts flow. This rhythm is the most fundamental characteristic of your writing. Don't force it, and make sure that your rhythm comes through, irrespective of the form or style that you use.
Be Okay With Mess: Your first few drafts will probably sound like a mess. This is fine. It's the process that matters, not the immediate results. Your authentic voice will reveal itself over time.
The truth is, nobody wants to read a pale imitation of your favorite writer. They want to read you, with all of your unique flaws and quirks. That’s why we all love the poets we do, because they speak to us from an authentic place, not because they are simply repeating what has already been done.
The world doesn't need more copies. It needs original voices. It needs yours.
So, go forth and write, without fear of messing up, and without shame.
Let me know how you get on in the comments below, and show me your true voice.
It is true; I find a trend in how people write poems. A particular style of writing poetry will come into fashion, and everyone will write like that. For fun, I have combined the poetry of three different writers into one poem, and it will work. Sometimes, the poem can sound forced. But I am not at all someone to judge because writing poetry for me comes from raw emotions, and sometimes I cry when I write. And sometimes I get mad. I often hate what I write, and I guess that's the whole point.