We all start by modeling others.
We grab their templates, their formulas, their prompts. We swipe their emails and sales pages as great samples to follow. We borrow their voice to make ours sound more credible.
But over time, we forget how to use our most powerful asset—our voice.
At a time when everyone is starting to sound alike, standing out matters.
Using tools like templates and swipe copy blurs your voice. Especially online, where the pressure to sound “professional” or “persuasive” can drown out what makes you…you.
What Makes a Voice?
We each have a voice: one that we share verbally in conversation and one that we share in writing. It’s that second one we’re going to talk about today. How you come across on the page.
It’s tempting to mimic successful people. But what makes them successful lies in being themselves and leaning into their voice. Each of them uses their power to write ideas in a way that brings their personality to life on the page.
When you try to mimic that, it falls flat. It doesn’t ring true. Or even when it does, it doesn’t last beyond the first webinar or live call you host. That’s when your audience finally realizes they’ve been duped by a “fake” voice. You lose credibility.
Your voice needs to sound like you, no matter how that sounds.
It should reflect your cadences, rhythms, and word choices. It should be the same as if someone ran into you in a cafe and shared a coffee with you.
You can’t get that if you are always relying on someone else’s voice as your guide.
Why a Narrative Detox?
If your writing feels like someone else’s lately? You might need a narrative detox.
This is when you step away from outside influences and start working on mastering your voice.
Here are your first steps…
Detox Your Story Voice:
Unfollow to Regain Focus. Take a break from creators whose tone is influencing yours. I do this when I’m writing fiction. There are certain authors whose voices are so strong they make me fall into imitation without realizing it. At least not until I am knee-deep in editing and realize nothing sounds like me. It’s okay to take a break. You aren’t abandoning your favorite business role models or authors. You’re just protecting yourself from outside voice creep (and that is a real thing).
Freewrite for 15 Minutes. No filters. No editing. Just write like you talk. This is a great way to find your voice.
Read It Out Loud. Does it sound like you? If not, tweak it. Keep working at it until it sounds like transcribed a conversation with a friend. That’s the voice you want.
Spot Your Signatures. Look for turns of phrase, cadence, humor, or truth-telling that feel unique to you.
The best writing doesn’t try to impress. It aims to connect.
If you want to learn more about voice (how to write in your own voice, reclaim your voice, rescue your writing when it doesn’t sound like you anymore), grab two of my newest products. The Voice Check is a free guide to help you identify when your voice has gone astray. The Voice Rescue Kit ($17, or $9 if grab it with The Voice Check) works as an emergency remedy to fix your voice when it goes astray. A full voice course will be available starting November 13, 2025.