Finding a Freelance Writing Voice

While it is of paramount importance to be versatile and flexible in your freelance writing career, it’s also important to have something that separates you from the rest of the competition. What makes you a different (or better) freelance writer than the other guy? Personally, I think that one of the greatest factors that can differentiate you from the crowd is a unique writing voice.

What is a Writing Voice?

You could say that a freelance writing voice is akin to finding a certain style or manner in which you write. It is partly because of their unique voices that people like Michael Crichton, Tom Clancy, and Mitch Albom are able to achieve the level of success that they do. There is no one else who can write quite the same way as Michael Crichton does. That’s his voice.

To truly stand out as a freelancer, you’ll want to find your own writing voice as well. There is no exact science to finding your unique style, so it will largely be a matter of trial and error before you can say that your writing is truly your own.

Voices of Inspiration

One of the greatest ways for you to find your own freelance writing voice is to look to other freelance writers for inspiration. This doesn’t mean that you should simply emulate their style, because that’s their style and not yours. That said, you can look to these other writers to get a sense of what is possible and why their distinct style of writing is different from that of everyone else.

For example, when you check out the blog of Chris Bibey, you’ll find that he makes extensive use of rhetorical questions. In many of his posts, he will pose a quick question and then respond to it himself, usually by saying that there is no single answer that will fit at all times. This style works for him and it’s a style that I immediately recognize as Chris Bibey’s.

Defining Factors of My Voice

In terms of my freelance writing voice, I find that I have a tendency to use compound sentences (just like this one). I also have a preference for sentence inversion, because it brings emphasis to the uniqueness of the circumstances. This style is used extensively in my feature articles and product reviews, as well as blog posts like this.

Do you have a writing style that is distinctly your own? Have you found your freelance writing voice?

Save Money And Stay Cooler with a Whole-House Fan

Handyman columnist James Dulley explains the benefits of a whole-house fan as a way to save money on summer cooling costs. A whole-house fan is a large fan you install in the ceiling of the uppermost floor of your home. When turned on the fan draws a enormous amount of air up and out of your home. In short, a whole-house fan is the super-charged version of opening the windows at night to let the cold air in and closing them in the morning to trap the colder night air inside. A whole house fan is also extremely energy efficient compared to an air conditioning unit. Dulley writes:


Depending upon its size, a whole-house fan uses only 10% to 20% as much electricity as a central air conditioner. Also, it uses significantly less electricity than a window air conditioner, yet it keeps the entire house more comfortable, not just one room. Installing one generally provides a good payback on the investment.

While I've never lived in house with a whole house fan, several of my neighbors over the years have had them and the effect is impressive. A home filled with hot stifling air from a scorching summer day can be quickly filled with cool night air in a matter of minutes. If you have a whole-house fan, tell us how it works in the comments.

Apple Faces Class Action Suit Over iPhone 3G Reception Issues

Los Angeles - A day after acknowledging that a software update for its iPhone 3G was issued to help remedy widespread reports of problems connecting to 3G networks, Apple (NASD: AAPL) was hit with a class action lawsuit that claims the network is slower than was advertised. Filed in federal court by Birmingham, Alabama resident Jessica Alena Smith, the lawsuit -- which seeks class action status -- charges Apple with breach of express and implied warranty, and unjust enrichment.

Mini-Tasks Save You Cleaning Time

Cut down on the amount of time and effort you spend cleaning by doing mini-sessions throughout your day. Heloise, the domestic diva of Good Housekeeping fame, shares tons of helpful mini-tasks sorted by each room of your home. For example:


After your family finishes brushing their teeth or shaving, use a dry terrycloth hand towel on the mirror and bathroom faucets to wipe away spots of lather so they won't build up.

Of course, to someone who hasn't developed a die-hard streak of domesticity, wiping down your sink and faucet might seem a bit obsessive compulsive. I have personally adopted many of these mini cleaning tricks and found that they do save time in the long run. A two second wipe with a cloth on the stainless steel fixtures in the bathroom once a day while brushing my teeth means not scrubbing it for several minutes to get it back to spotless if I were to do it only once a week. Do you have little mini-task time saving rituals? Share them with your fellow readers!

Use Powdered Milk to Make Quick-Fix Paint

Got a DIY project you found on, well, some site or another, or got a small area you want to try out a paint color on? The Wise Bread blog says that a stash of powdered milk—which they list more than a dozen other clever uses for—can be used to mix up a reasonable simulation of the stuff you pay a good penny for at the hardware store:

Apple iPhone 3G Launches in India, Poland

New Delhi and Warsaw - Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Friday launched its iPhone 3G in India and Poland, but while crowds lined up at midnight sales at several locations in India, Apple's Polish iPhone carrier partner, Orange, said it paid actors to create "fake queues" at 20 of its stores in the country, Reuters reported. The iPhone 3G retails for a whopping $700 in India, compared with $199 in the U.S., but Indian carrier partner Airtel told Reuters it counted more than 200,000 pre-bookings before prices were announced.