Finding One's Voice

Growing up is never easy. It involves tons of stops and starts, mistakes, embarrassments, and humbling experiences. At least, that how it has been for me. Of course, now that I am old enough to receive social security checks, be on Medicare and receive copies of the AARP magazine, none of those not-so-fun moments that come with growing up ever happen any more. (Ha Ha). The fact is none of us ever stop truly trying to find our own voice. All of us, in that sense, are and forever remain works in progress. Perhaps the difference between those who are young and those who are not is that the oldsters are simply more settled in their ways.


For those who spend a good deal of their time writing, finding their own voice is a particular challenge. Novelists are examples of communicators who strive to establish a rhythm that is unique to them. What they produce represents their own perspective on life and their own way of describing it. What and how they write is about them. There are other professional communicators who spend a good deal of their time writing, however, that do not always have the freedom of communicating in their own voice. This is because they speak for others. Not surprisingly, I am referring to public relations practitioners.


More often than not, what these men and women compose is purposefully designed to reflect the thinking, vision, etc. of others. What they write is not about them. Rather, it is about someone else. Given that reality, how can these professionals find their own voice as writers? Is there any one they can develop a style that captures them and no one else? No. Such a blunt answer be enough to turn someone off from pursuing a career in public relations. It shouldn't. These professionals perform a valuable service: providing a voice to those who need one. The fact they have the skills to do this - speak as others would or hope to - is no small thing. In a special way, that is their voice.