How to Find Your Unique Voice in a Crowded World

As a creative, have you truly found your voice? Not the trendy one. Not the one that pleases others. But the voice feels like home. As a writer, actor, director, or musician, finding it is like striking gold.

As an author, I found my voice early on; it was more about finding the genre that fit my writing style. Not every genre is for everyone. Can you imagine Jane Austen writing in Science Fiction or Madonna singing metal?

TOO MANY COLLISIONS

You have to pick one genre. And the way to do that is by listening to yourself. What does your gut say? Do you get excited when writing Romance, Action/Adventure, or Gothic Horror? And that’s only to name a few authors.

For musicians, it’s a different playing field, but somewhat similar. When you’re singing or playing an instrument, what speaks to both your heart and ears? Is it Pop, Hip-Hop, or R&B? Choosing your genre is paramount.

Does success matter? Yes, but it’s not more important than finding your genre and voice.

If you don’t choose one clear classification, then it’ll be harder for others to remember you. There is such a thing as an exception, but if you’re just starting out, I can guarantee that it’s not you.

MAKE IT WORK

To choose your genre, you need to know what it is first. A genre is a category or type of artistic expression, such as literature, music, or film, that’s distinguished by its shared features, themes, or styles.

You might be questioning, “If the definition says shared, what do you mean by I can’t choose three genres?”

Good question. When I say three, I mean singing Reggae, Pop, and Opera music at the same time. They’re not under a shared theme, so your identity becomes blurry, and there goes your legacy.

In How to Create Compelling Characters, I give you advice on how to build a memorable character, no matter which medium you choose. Which is the perfect genre for you? Whichever you choose, it can’t be random.

PERFECT TWO

Here’s why this matters: the genre you chose won’t be random. It’s already inside of you. It’s the movie you rewatch every winter, the song that pulls you out of a slump, the book that made you want to write. That’s where your voice lives.

What you love, others will feel. And no one else can tell that story like you can.

Lana Del Rey is mostly known for her Pop sound and melodic style. Do you think she would be well-known if she sang heavy metal? If you said maybe not, then you’re right. She has a light singing style, and more often than not, all professionals know their style because it’s incorporated in their lives in some form of way.

JET, SET, GO

I’m sharing the best advice I’ve learned through experience. If you follow these tips, I’m sure you’ll get better at knowing what speaks to you. Others may speak the language, but you speak it fluently, because it’s yours.

Let me know in the comments if this made your perspective different. If it did, what are you going to do differently?