How your unique voice can translate into sweet book sales

In life, and in cake, every person has his or her own individual recipe for success.

With these tips, you will discover your own unique voice and how to instill it into everything you write.

Five Ways to Find Your Voice

1. Whip Your Ideas Into Shape With Quick Exercises

There is nothing wrong with plotting your entire story before you put words down on paper. But sometimes, the easiest way to overcome the fear of the blank page is to get that first draft done.

Quick writing exercises allow you to banish your inner critic and let your true voice shine through.

2. Trust Your Literary Fare

Every writer is different and each will have his or her own recipe for success. Whereas your writing buddies may prefer to go light on setting, you may add an extra dash of character over your fellow writers.

No concoction is right or wrong, but by following your own recipe, you automatically bring your own individual flavor to your writing.

3. Have a Crack at Something New

For the most part, when you give a group of people the same cupcake recipe, the finished products will turn out somewhat similar to one another.

Once you've mastered (or at least learned) the tricks and techniques it takes to be a good writer, don't be afraid to experiment. Even if your efforts do not turn out quite as you imagine, one's best success often comes after his or her greatest disappointment.

4. Add Your Own Sugar and Spice 

While we all watch the same movies, read the same books and listen to the same music, every story we collectively produce is not particularly identical, but there are similar nuances to be found.

The art of finding your voice lies in saying what you mean, but in your very own way. If the customer (and hence your audience) is always right, give them what they want, but in a way they won’t expect it.

5. Let It Proof

Every baker knows that the key to a good batch of bread is allowing the dough to rise before you can shape it into its final form.

Once you complete your first draft, let the story set for a day or two. While it rests in the background, the idea will remain with you, and new ideas may continue to percolate. That is when the real magic happens.

How The Happy Baker Achieved Sweet Success

Toronto baker Erin Bolger’s combination of her adventures in dating and experiments in baking is a blue ribbon effort that has provided sweet literary success.

Under the name The Happy Baker, Bolger’s tongue-in-cheek tales of dating in The Happy Baker - A Dater’s Guide To Emotional Baking are further illustrated by her personal collection of recipes.

By showcasing her individual voice in a unique way, this small town Ontario gal has cooked up a book premise that gives food for thought and the tempting recipes to go with it. Bolger's cookbook has also been voted one of the "Best Cookbooks of 2009" by the Montreal Gazette!

The Happy Baker - A Dater’s Guide To Emotional Baking is available online and at various specialty retailers.

Torontonians can also find the book at their local Chapters/Indigo location using the Store Locater, or at The Cookbook Store in Yorkville and Book City in Bloor West Village.

Photo: Happy Baker Publishing

The Secret to Your Own Sweet Success

The key to sweet literary success can be found within you. Infuse your individual voice into everything you write, and serve up your own unique brand of storytelling to your readers.

Your opinion matters 

How do you channel your inner voice? Do you have any tips or tricks to discovering your unique style of writing?

Share your methods with your fellow writers in the comments section!

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