I just started reading a book on wabi sabi and how writers can use it to uncover authenticity and truth and make their writing better. I'll review this book here later, when I'm finished with it. This idea of an authentic voice appeals to me. I see the authentic voice, as it relates to writing as being the one voice that speaks harmony and truth about the topic you're writing about. It doesn't have to polished or perfect to the standards of the English language, but rather it should be a reflection of yourself and how you see the topic. You want to connect to your readers on a deep intrinsic level and want them to walk away with the feeling that they learned something about themselves, the world or you. Whew, what a mouthful, eh?

So as you write, for yourself or others, you begin to share your perspective with others. The world you display on the paper unfolds and through it we get a glimpse of what you see and how you view the world. The choices we make as to which word we put on paper, the cadence of each sentence speaks to others as if we were reciting the words with our mouths. We speak with grammar and punctuation. Practicing how you speak in writing can help you develop your authentic writing voice. From what I've read and learned, that there's no one right way to become a voice.The authentic voice takes awhile to find and varies depending on what you're writing about. Here's some suggestions that I've found useful to help me develop my own personal writing voice.

1. Cater your writing style to match the intended audience. You wouldn't speak to your boss and your mother the same way, would you? Changing what words you choose to use in your writing, whether personal or creative can help you uncover and develop your writing voice by matching it to the audience.
2. Practice what you speak. Try writing as if you were talking to someone else. How would that sound on paper? Try speaking to another person as if you were happy, sad or mad at them and see how different the passages are.
3. Write as if you were the character. Sometimes helping to develop an authentic voice means writing as if you were that person. Step into your character's shoes. What words do they prefer using? Speaking as if you were that character teaches you how to use voice as if you were that character and in doing so, it helps you uncover the nuances that make your own voice special.
4. Try and examine the topic you're writing about from multiple perspectives and share the reason you feel the way you do. Sometimes when you explain the other side, you're able to view and relate to your own musings more truthfully.

I know that I'm still working on my own writing voice. I'm still searching for the right combination of words, examples and pictures that match what I want to say in my articles, stories and daily communicatives. But as I look to wabi sabi, I know that the result unfolds in the process, and not in the destination. That only time shall help me and my prose grow stronger and allow others to get a deeper insight into who I am as a writer and what I am trying to say through writing. How do you develop your writing voice? Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments of this article.