I’m often asked how one cultivates a writer’s voice. Good questions, because, if you’re writing, stop worrying. You already have one. It’s yours alone. You are unique.

A writer’s voice is the specific choice of words, phrases, sentences and format that when composed in written form reflects the feelings, ideas and desires of the writer. So, if you’re ever on Jeopardy! and have “writer’s voices” for $1000, you’ve got the answer.

While the definition is simple enough, writing voices change over time, just like our ideas, dreams and goals can change. We can also change our writer’s voice. The writer’s voice you hear initially may change as you become a more practiced writer. Your writing style will evolve. When I read some of the work I composed in my early years, the writing is stiff and formal. My sentences often included far too many big words. The BIG word, I somehow thought, made me sound more like a writer.

As you know, I’m a ghostwriter, as well as a novelist and writing professor. For each of these genres, I use a different voice. It sounds psychic, but step back and let’s look at it.

Think a moment about your favorite writer. He or she has a specific way of producing prose. One would never mistake the scary work of horror writer Stephen King for Danielle Steel, the romance writer. Your writing has a different cadence than another person in your critique group—even when you’re writing on the same topic. If you want to change that pattern, then change the length and complexity of your writing with shorter sentences or more complicated ones.

We capture the writer’s voice by instinct and by not censoring the prose. As with this blog, my writer’s voice is casual and I hope warm, friendly and encouraging. I like to use contractions such as it’s, that’s, what’s. I try to make my writing reveal Eva Shaw, so you can see me in my words and then give information.

When writing fiction, it’s smart to use various voices for your characters. Let’s say, for example, one of my characters is a five-year-old. If I want to show the reader that the girl is far smarter than another child this age, I’d have the girl use some big words or even be thoughtful in her questioning of an adult. Finding the right voices for your characters is fun and you help the reader picture them by the words that are used.

The idea of a writer’s voice may be a new concept to you or one you’ve worked to find for some time. A writer’s voice is the way you put thoughts and creative ideas together. It’s the way you alone impart information, knowledge, entertainment and inspiration.

Pat yourself on the back. You don’t have to strive to achieve your writer’s voice. You’ve already got it and now, if you want, you can polish it and improve it.