How to Balance Your Voice When Working as a Freelance Writer
How to Balance Your Voice When Working as a Freelance Writer
Writing is a deeply personal experience, but when it comes to using writing as a way to make money, the waters can look muddy when it comes to writing style, voice, and passion. Not every job is going to call for an individual take; most jobs won’t. They have a vision, and it’s your job to use your knowledge of the English language to create their vision and bring it to life on their blogs, websites, product packages, and social media accounts. Keeping the client in mind, how do we balance the concept of personal voice when writing for someone else without feeling like we are losing a piece of ourselves in exchange?
Understanding a Client’s Brand and Finding Your Lane
Writing for a company or business doesn’t have to be a bore, and it doesn’t mean you have to lose your voice or style, however, it does mean you have to know the brand’s mission and promote it in a way that aligns with their ideologies because at the end of the day, this is the job they are paying you to do. Take time to learn the ins and outs and really get to know their vision, just as you would a new friend. Check out their current website, interview employees, and really get to know the essence of the brand. From there, you can start to assess where you fit into this writing equation.
Not all jobs will be a natural fit but learning to write in a style that doesn’t come naturally is part of the writing craft. Take it as a learning experience and build your portfolio. You never know when a different kind of voice will come in handy. Think of it this way. Just as you have your own “brand” and voice, the companies you work with are looking for that same essence in their operation. Think of the work as collaborating and sharing your talent with someone who doesn’t have the skills you do. Work with them to create a stellar piece of writing that has your heart but their messaging. When we look at tasks with curiosity and view them as a learning experience, everybody wins.
Choose Your Jobs Wisely
If you are writing to make a living, in most cases, you’re beholden to the brands you’re contracted with. You are hired to use your knowledge of writing to help someone else’s vision come alive; not your own. This can be a really cool partnership. You get to learn about new charities, products, and lifestyles while helping the people behind the screen spread their messages. But this is where choice comes into play. At the beginning of your journey, you may have to take whatever jobs you can get, but the more you write, the more opportunities will become available to you and your experience level.
Until those jobs begin to open up, think about your writing style versus the job you’re being asked to do. If you love using figurative language and enjoy adding humor into your work but you are slated to write for a traditional medical supply company, you may not find the room to interject your personality. Your objective is to get accurate information out to the public about their products. This is one type of roadblock when it comes to personal voice, but no matter the issue, you do have options.
1. Look at the job as an opportunity to create a new voice and learn a new skill. Not every job will fit you perfectly, but you can look at a new project as an opportunity to learn and grow as a writer. Learning about how to write about products in a sales way is a great skill to take with you on future projects. Each job will present a learning curve that will ultimately make you a better writer.
2. Look for appropriate places to interject your voice that doesn’t compromise the brand, such as social media campaigns, email newsletters, or writing that needs hypothetical examples. These specific areas may offer more creative flexibility to show your voice, talent, and passion.
3. If all else fails, forgo the job, and find something else that fits your style. If you hit a creative roadblock and you are financially able, release the job and call in something that better suits your style and passion.
When seeking work, look for the jobs that connect to your heart and your own passions. By using your own likes and experiences as your foundation, you’ll be able to put your heart and voice into more of your work. Use keyword searches, work with a job hunter, and contact companies directly from websites that connect to your own personal mission, even if they aren’t hiring. You never know when an opportunity will open up that fits your needs and style.
A Happy Compromise
One truth about using writing to make a living is that it’s work, and sometimes, we have to take jobs that simply don’t align with our personal visions or voices because we need the money. I am here to give you permission on that journey to use capitalism to better yourself and your bank account. It’s okay. Once you can get past these early stages of a working writer, you’ll begin to build your portfolio and find the agencies and jobs that align with your heart and your mission. The trick is to never stop looking and never stop writing.
Balancing our inner writing spirit with the needs of a client can feel challenging at times, especially if they are rejecting our work based on our voice and style, but when it comes to writing as a means to live, the client is always right. If you need help working on your voice and using it in multiple ways, reach out to The Storyteller Agency for guidance and training. There is always a happy medium with a work/life balance. Let us help you find yours when it comes to writing for work.
Jennifer Carnevale
Jennifer, otherwise known as Jenn with two Ns, is a tattooed teacher and music-lover looking to change the world one word at a time. Living in the land of the witches in Salem, MA, she spends her day as a high school ELA teacher and puts on her writing cap when she gets home. She’s currently working on nonfiction workbooks and essays relating to relationships, self-help, and getting out of your own way.
Jenn received a dual master’s from Simmons University in Boston in Literature and Teaching. She’s worked as an adjunct for numerous colleges teaching the art and skill of writing. From fiction to creative nonfiction, from proper email etiquette to reading reflections, she does it all. She also acts as an educational content creator for various websites and loves to add flare and fun to advertising/marketing blogs and postings. Her personal writing joy is creating content for addiction recovery centers around the US in hopes of helping people seek the treatment they need and deserve.
In her free time, Jenn produces a podcast called Someone Needs to Hear It with the goal of spreading stories across the globe to create a more understanding and loving world, but she’s not all work and no play. Jenn spends most of her “off” time reading at home with her cat, Kylo, people watching at coffee shops, and traveling the world the second her teaching contract ended.
Jenn’s not your average WFH writer. She’s a free-spirited soul looking to push the boundaries of storytelling by adding authentic voice, style and love to all her projects. She believes, “Everything we do is a narrative. It’s how you frame it that dictates your life.”
