The best way to become a good writer (even a good copywriter) is to read. But don’t read just anything. In fact, one of my best clients has admitted to going on a reading hiatus from this blog simply because absorbing themselves in my writing got in the way of them developing their own unique writing style. Do what you’ve got to do.

If you’ve got no idea what the “true you” sounds like, consider the type of writing you enjoy. Consider why you connect with that writing. Is it because it’s funny? Intelligent? Down-to-earth? Spiritual?

Of course, I like all kinds of writing for different reasons, and I’m sure you do, too. So if you’re completely lost, read one type of writing style for a week. If after that period, it feels like it could be “you”, start writing drafts of your copy in that style. Trash it if it doesn’t work. Keep it if it feels real.

Now, read

Lumping these sites according to writing style is possibly blasphemous (what do you mean that Naomi of IttyBiz is snarky? She’s the farthest from snarky!), but I’m going to do it anyway. I didn’t cover every writing style, of course. Just the ones I actually read.

Guzzle their writing, friends. Dissect what works and what doesn’t (because there’s always room for improvement, even in the guru-iest among us.) And then emerge with your own unique spin.

Intelligent/Poignant

• Ana Marie Cox – I don’t understand half of what she says, but I feel it makes me smarter somehow. Another big plus — laughing without knowing exactly what I’m laughing at.
• Gwen Bell – Gwen’s long been one of my super heroes. She intelligently tackles social media in a single bound.
• Seth Godin – Everyone loves Seth. My reason: he twists my brain around and gets me over the hump of what everyone else thinks about marketing versus what actually works.
• Mental multivitamin – I hate that she calls herself M-MV, because I have to say it in my head and my brain stutters. Otherwise, it’s a dose I rarely deny myself.

Snarky/Self-deprecating

• Comfort Queen – She bares her soul with all manner of self-directed humor, and we get to watch. Watch and say “Oh yes, that’s me, too.”
• IttyBiz – Naomi, Naomi. I will never leave you, no matter how much you assault my senses with your yelling and debauchery.

Story-telling

• Communicatrix – I sometimes feel like I’m eavesdropping, she’s so promiscuous with the interesting details of her life. Promiscuous in a good, I’m-with-you sort of way. Not a bad, I’m-making-money-telling-secrets-about-everyone-in-my-life sort of way.
• Emma Alvarez Gibson – She’s going in a new direction (I like it!) so I’m not sure if that includes more stories, but I hope it does. She has a knack for it.
• Walk Slowly, Live Wildly – She does good things for the world while she tells her stories. I like that.

Funny, funny, funny

• The Pioneer Woman Cooks – I mainly drool over all the pictures, wish I had time to cook like that, and pine for horses while reading Ree’s stuff. Oh yes, and I spit milk out of my nose laughing.
• Put Things Off – Funny…motivational. Funny…motivational. Dang it, I knew I was going to suck at categorizing these things.
• Smitten Kitchen – I’ve noticed most food people are tremendously funny by nature. Being around food all the time must put them in a perpetually good mood.
• Sparky Firepants – He’s so funny. An added bonus: he also happens to actually know what he’s talking about.
• The Fluent Self – Havi is just so funny and so likable. (How can you not be funny and likable with a duck perched on your shoulder? Also, I don’t like how likable doesn’t have an ‘e’ after the ‘k’. Doesn’t it look like lickable?)

Spiritual/Inspiring

• Desiring God – I like the un-watered down-ness of this guy.
• Heart of Business – Mark’s posts have stopped me in my tracks more than once. He brings me back to the why of working for myself.
• Soul Pancake – Asking the tough questions and then never answering them. (I read it because Dwight from The Office writes it.)
• White Hot Truth – Danielle LaPorte is one of the coolest people on the planet. That is all.
• Zen Is Stupid – I don’t know much about Western Buddhism (except that apparently something is wrong with it), but I like listening to Patrick and Gwen argue. Very spiritual.

Motivational

• Magpie Girl – Rachelle motivates me to do less, which is exactly the kind of motivation I need.
• Mindful Time Management – More about doing less. I love that she blogs sporadically. It makes me feel like it’s the right thing to do.
• Productive Flourishing – After I read Charlie’s blog, I feel gently nudged to a brighter future. (It’s true!)
• Rise of the Innerpreneur – He helps me to experience my work as art. And also to do less (sense a recurring theme here?)
• The Art of Nonconformity – Besides having a killer website, this guy’s writing just keeps getting better. Read 279 Days to Overnight Success. Totally worth it.