How Do I Find My Voice If I'm Writing in More Than One?

Why Writing in Multiple Voices Is a Modern Writer's Dilemma

If you've ever asked yourself, "How do I find my writing voice?" you're not alone. But what happens when you're writing in more than one voice? Maybe you're a novelist who switches POVs. Or you're a blogger and a fiction writer. Or perhaps you write for both adults and teens. If you're nodding, you've probably wondered at some point: "What's my real voice, and how do I hold onto it when I'm writing in so many others?"

Today's writing landscape encourages versatility. Writers are often expected to adapt their voice across genres, platforms, and audiences. But with that freedom comes a challenge: maintaining authenticity without becoming fragmented. How do you stay consistent, compelling, and true to yourself when the demands of each piece are different?

Let's dive into how you can write in multiple voices without losing your own.

Before we tackle how to balance multiple voices, let's define what we mean by writing voice.

Your writing voice is more than just sentence structure or word choice. It's your fingerprint on the page. It's the way you see the world, your recurring themes, your emotional tone, your unique cadence. It's what makes readers recognize your work, even when the subject or format changes.

Think of writing voice as the thread that runs through everything you create. In fiction, your voice might shape the mood or message, even when your characters speak differently. In nonfiction or blog posts, it's the personality behind the advice. It's your lens—and it's essential because it builds connection and trust with your audience.

Here's how to keep your authentic voice intact, even when writing in multiple styles:

While your style may shift—dialogue-heavy in fiction, reflective in memoir, punchy in blog posts—your core voice often stays the same. What's underneath the surface is where your true voice lives.

To discover this, ask yourself:

• What themes do I return to again and again?
• What emotional truths do I keep exploring?
• What tone feels most natural to me—witty, melancholic, urgent, ironic?

You might be surprised to find that your work, across genres or character perspectives, still echoes the same core concerns and emotional truths. That's your voice at work.

When writing fiction or dialogue-heavy pieces, it's tempting to completely disappear behind your characters. And yes, their voices should feel authentic and distinct. But remember: you are the one choosing what they say, how they react, what they notice.

Your voice isn't about micromanaging every line. It's about showing up in the structure, the rhythm, the heart of the story. If each character has their own voice, the story still belongs to you.

One way to find and protect your authentic voice is to write where no one else will see it. A private journal or voice memo app lets you express yourself without genre constraints, expectations, or performative polish.

Over time, patterns will emerge: your word choice, the way you frame conflict, how you process ideas. This "default setting" is often your most unfiltered writing voice—and it's a powerful tool for recognizing it elsewhere.

Whether it's a personal essay or a multi-POV novel, read your writing aloud. It's one of the fastest ways to detect where your voice is strong—and where it disappears.

Ask yourself:

• Does this sound like me?
• Does it flow naturally or feel forced?
• If this were someone else's writing, would I recognize it as mine?

Voice isn't just about how something reads—it's also how it sounds. If your writing falls flat when spoken, it might be time to re-engage your authentic tone.

Many writers unconsciously rely on certain sensory images, metaphors, or obsessions. Pay attention to yours. Maybe you return to sea imagery, or body-based metaphors, or moments of rupture and reconciliation. These are your anchors.

Even if your surface voice changes (from fantasy dialogue to memoir confessions), these anchors help you maintain a recognizable throughline.

If you write in multiple genres—say, poetry and parenting columns—start looking for your throughline. Is it a certain mood? A question you keep returning to? A value that shapes your tone?

Your writing voice can stretch, expand, and adapt, but it's often powered by a few deep-rooted themes. Pinpointing them helps you feel grounded.

Don't be afraid to experiment with voice. Writing in more than one voice isn't a liability—it's a gift. Trying out different tones and perspectives strengthens your craft and reveals new layers of your identity as a writer.

Just make sure you always come back to the question: What feels like me? When something clicks—when it feels true—you'll know it. And so will your readers.

Don't limit yourself by thinking your voice must sound the same across every piece. It's not a cage—it's a compass. Your writing voice is the emotional and thematic thread that weaves through all your work. Even if you write blog posts in one tone, literary fiction in another, and fantasy dialogue in a third, you're still you.

Instead of asking, "Which voice is my real one?" start asking: "How do all these voices speak through me?"

In a world that demands range and flexibility, your voice is not what confines you—it's what connects everything you write.

 Have you struggled with writing in more than one voice? What helps you stay grounded in your own? Share your experience in the comments.