Finding Your Unique Voice: Practical Exercises to Identify Your Creative Style
Are you a creative entrepreneur? Never underestimate the power of your unique voice. In the vast sea of creativity, standing out requires more than just skill or talent—it requires owning your voice. Your unique creative voice is the compass guiding your work, a reflection of your experiences, beliefs, and emotions. Without it, even the most technically impressive work can feel flat, impersonal, or indistinct.
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.
As a creative entrepreneur, your voice isn’t just an artistic expression—it’s the foundation of your brand and business. So, how do you go about discovering and refining it?
The journey to finding your unique voice may seem abstract, but it’s a process that can be broken down into practical steps. You might be surprised to learn that uncovering your voice involves more introspection and self-awareness than anything else.
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By digging deep into your personal story, inspirations, and emotions, you can find the creative essence that sets you apart. Below, we will explore several exercises that will help you unearth and shape your creative identity, giving you the clarity to stand out in your field.
Reflect on Your Life Story
Your life is a goldmine of creative inspiration, but you must first be willing to mine it. Think about how your personal experiences have shaped the way you see the world. Are there recurring themes in your life?
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Perhaps you have faced adversity, and resilience has become a hallmark of your journey. Or maybe your upbringing in a multicultural household has given you a distinctive perspective that you can infuse into your work. Whatever, is your life story, let it shine through in your creative works.
Journaling is an excellent way to start. Set aside time each day to reflect on key moments in your life—both the highs and the lows. Write about how these experiences made you feel and how they changed you. As you do this, certain themes will begin to emerge. These themes can serve as the backbone of your creative voice, giving your work emotional depth and authenticity.
Take the example of Maya Angelou, whose personal experiences with racism, trauma, and resilience deeply influenced her writing. Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” I truly hope you pay attention to that.
See also 35 Maya Angelou Inspire Quotes To You Must Know
By telling her story, Angelou not only found her voice but created work that resonated with millions. Your own story holds that same potential and never underestimate it.
Define Your Values and Beliefs
Your values shape your voice more than you might think. The principles you live by, the causes you champion, and the issues that matter most to you all inform the work you create. If you are unsure of what those values are, ask yourself: What do I stand for? What am I passionate about? What would I fight for?
This is a consideration that was exhaustively dealt with in the five-part book series “The Storytelling Mastery”. So, make sure to check it out.
Once you have identified your core values, consider how they align with your creative work. For example, if sustainability is a driving force in your life, how can that manifest in your designs, writing, or art? Perhaps you will adopt eco-friendly materials for your artwork or craft stories that highlight environmental issues.
Consider entrepreneur Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. His personal values of environmental conservation became the cornerstone of his brand. By staying true to those values, Patagonia didn’t just sell products; it told a story, one that resonated with customers who shared those same beliefs.
By incorporating your values into your work, you are more likely to attract the right audience that connects with you on a deeper level.
Analyze Your Influences and Determine Who Is Shaping Your Behavior
Who or what inspires you? It’s important to acknowledge the external influences that have shaped your creative style. This could be a mentor, a historical figure, a specific art movement, or even a particular cultural phenomenon.
While you don’t want to imitate your influences, understanding them can help you trace the development of your voice.
Create a mood board that represents your influences. Include images, quotes, colors, or works of art that resonate with you. Once it’s complete, take a step back and analyze the commonalities. What about these influences draws you in?
Is it the use of color, the emotional depth, or the innovative techniques? This can give you insight into your own creative tendencies and preferences, which you can then build on to create something wholly your own.
However, it’s important to differentiate between inspiration and mimicry. While influences can guide your creative journey, your voice must ultimately be an original reflection of your inner world.
Take J.K. Rowling, for instance. Her work was influenced by mythology, folklore, and classic literature, but her unique spin on these themes created an entirely new world with characters that felt fresh and original.
Recognize your influences but remember that your voice is the filter through which those influences must pass. Always remember that.
Craft Your Story Through Personal Narratives
Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to express your unique voice. Your personal narrative can be woven into every aspect of your creative work, whether you are a visual artist, a designer, or a writer. The key is to find a way to communicate your story through the medium that feels most natural to you.
One useful exercise is to write your “creative origin story.” Much like a superhero discovering their powers, every creative has a moment when they realize the power of their craft.
- When did you first fall in love with your art?
- What challenges did you face along the way?
- How did you overcome them?
By writing this narrative, you will start to see the threads that connect your past to your present work.
Consider artist Frida Kahlo. Her paintings were deeply autobiographical, reflecting her physical pain, emotional struggles, and cultural heritage. She famously said, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”
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Kahlo’s unique voice came through in her ability to blend personal suffering with vivid, surreal imagery that captivated audiences. Your story is just as compelling, and it has the potential to resonate deeply with others when told authentically.
Experiment and Play with Different Mediums
Sometimes, finding your voice requires stepping outside of your comfort zone. You may feel like you have found your creative niche, but there’s always value in experimentation. Try working in a new medium, style, or format to see how it influences your voice.
For example, if you are a writer, consider trying your hand at photography or painting. If you’re a visual artist, experiment with short-form writing or storytelling. The goal isn’t necessarily to master a new craft but to see how different mediums allow you to express different facets of your voice. You might discover new dimensions of your creativity that you hadn’t considered before.
Take multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino. He’s explored everything from comedy to music to acting, and each medium has allowed him to express different aspects of his creative identity.
Whether it’s through stand-up, television, or Grammy-winning music, Glover’s voice is unmistakable, yet multifaceted.
Seek Feedback from Trusted Peers
While your voice is ultimately yours, external feedback can be invaluable in helping you refine it. Share your work with trusted peers, mentors, or even a small audience, and ask for honest feedback.
What themes or emotions do they see in your work? What stands out to them? Are there parts that feel disconnected or unclear?
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This feedback can help you identify strengths you may not have noticed and refine areas that need more focus. It’s also a way to gauge how your voice resonates with others. While you should never create solely for the approval of others, understanding how your work is perceived can help you communicate more clearly and authentically.
When soliciting feedback, make sure to ask the right people—those who understand your vision and have your best interests at heart. Creative communities, whether local or online, can be an excellent source of constructive criticism and support.
Test and Evolve Through Small-Scale Projects
Once you have started to define your voice, it’s time to test it. Rather than diving headfirst into a large project, consider working on smaller, low-stakes initiatives where you can experiment and see how your voice comes across.
For instance, if you are a designer, try creating a mini collection of work that reflects your newly discovered style. If you are a writer, start by publishing short stories or articles that incorporate your personal voice.
These smaller projects will give you the freedom to play with your voice without the pressure of a major project.
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Remember, your voice isn’t static. It will evolve over time, as you grow both personally and professionally. Just as artists like Picasso went through various stylistic periods, your voice may shift in response to new experiences, influences, and ideas. The key is to stay true to yourself while remaining open to evolution.
Conclusion: The Journey to Your Voice is the Journey to Yourself
Finding your unique creative voice is both an inward and outward journey. It requires you to reflect on your personal history, define your values, understand your influences, and experiment with different mediums. Most importantly, it requires vulnerability—the willingness to share your story, your perspective, and your truth with the world.
In the words of Maya Angelou, “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” Your voice is your song, and the world is waiting to hear it. By embracing and refining that voice, you can build not just a creative career but a legacy that is truly your own.
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.
