Michael T. Hare

A mosaic is an image constructed of many little pieces, which range in a variety of colors and shapes.

My mom says we’re all mosaics of people. In other words, we select traits we like from those around us and apply them to ourselves: “Yes, I want to be like that. No, I don’t want to be like that.” Through this process, we form our own unique person—a mosaic made of bits and pieces we take from other people.

Why can’t we do the same with writing?

All writers have a style. And that style is usually referred to as a voice, something that makes them sound like… well… them. As writers, we often get caught up in trying to find our voice. We experiment a little here and experiment a little there. We write like this author, and then we write like that author. And that’s okay.

Because—guess what?—my mom’s advice doesn’t just apply to people. It also applies to writing. Yeah, that’s how awesome my mom is. Every author’s style is a mosaic, whether they admit it or not, built over years of inspiration from their favorite writers. We can’t help it. Humans are inherently inspired by one another. It’s a good thing.

However, like any mosaic, yours will take time to create. Finding your voice as a writer can be a messy business. Constantly worrying about originality and grappling with jealousy—the latter being one of my personal obstacles. But stick with it, traveler. Your style will be more than just original. It’ll be a brilliant mixture of everything you love, cultivated into a single voice that belongs to you.

Keep building.

Don’t give up.