“Just write like you talk!”
If you’ve ever struggled with writing for your business (emails, blog articles, etc.), you’ve probably heard this—which might be the most frustrating piece of writing advice ever dished out.
On the surface, it makes sense. After all, if you have a personal brand, you want your writing to “sound like you” and reflect your personality.
So why not just write exactly like you speak?
Here’s the problem: While this advice aims to help you sound more natural, it oversimplifies a complex challenge. It’s like telling someone who takes great iPhone photos to “just shoot like that” with a professional camera.
The core skill might be similar, but the execution requires different techniques.
Why “Write Like You Talk” falls short
Think about your last great client conversation.
You probably:
None of these elements translate directly to writing.
When you try to “write like you talk,” you’re attempting to force a dynamic, two-way communication style into a one-way written format.
It’s like trying to turn a jazz improvisation into sheet music—something inevitably gets lost in translation.
The strategy gap
More importantly, this advice completely ignores the strategic element of written content creation.
Your written content and copy needs to:
Simply “writing like you talk” doesn’t address any of these crucial marketing elements.
How many times have you got off a call and thought, “Ugh, I forgot to say XXX!” or “Why did I say XXX like that?” Effective written communication takes longer and more effort because we are putting more strategy into making sure we hit all the points we need to in the most concise and compelling way possible.
When we speak, we tend to ramble. We aren’t thinking about being as concise as possible. BUT, in our emails and blog articles, conciseness and readability are key considerations. And editing for brevity and clarity takes time (and different skills than just “talking”).
A hybrid approach
Instead of trying to directly transcribe your speaking style, focus on creating a strategic bridge between your natural communication style and effective written content.
Here’s how:
1. Start with clarity on your brand voice
Before you write anything, get clear on:
This isn’t about creating a fake persona—it’s about deliberately choosing which authentic parts of yourself to highlight in your content and which should be filtered out.
2. Embrace the messy first draft
Want to know a secret? Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it shouldn’t be.
Here’s a way to break through writing block and capture your authentic voice.
You’re going to use dictation to extract the ideas in your head.
The goal here isn’t a polished piece—because we don’t want something that is “exactly” how you speak. But this is raw, unfiltered content that captures your genuine thoughts and unique voice.
Why this works: Speaking taps into different feelings than writing. Think about it: When someone asks us about our work, a recent project, or something we’re passionate about, we can talk for hours. But put us in front of a blank document, and suddenly we freeze up.
This happens because writing triggers our inner critic. The blank page becomes a performance stage where we feel judged, forcing us to edit ourselves before we’ve even begun. Speaking, on the other hand, is low-stakes. There’s no backspace, no permanent record—just a natural flow of thoughts.
Your brain isn’t constantly second-guessing every word. Instead, it’s doing what it does best: connecting ideas, sharing stories, and explaining concepts in a way that feels effortless.
By using dictation, you bypass the mental roadblocks that typically prevent you from getting started.
You’ll access ideas and explanations that would get stuck while trying to write “perfectly.” It’s like talking to a friend instead of delivering a formal presentation—and that’s exactly the authenticity you want to bring to your writing.
3. The editing process
Here’s where you elevate your messaging.
This is where you transform a raw, meandering monologue into a clear, powerful piece of writing that has the power to connect with your audience and drive action.
Keep:
Filter out:
This is where you also ensure your writing does more than sound good. It needs to:
Each edit should make your message clearer, more focused, and more compelling.
The result? A piece of writing that’s unmistakably you—but razor-sharp in its impact.
After you do this full process a few times, you’ll notice the key identifiers of your voice, and you’ll be able to skip dictating the content first and just get down a messy draft by typing. But you may find it’s a step you want to keep. Many people find it can speed up their content creation process.
Moving forward
Creating content that sounds authentically like you while serving your business goals isn’t as simple as “writing like you talk.”
It requires intentional choices about how to translate your natural communication style into effective written content.
Some days you’ll nail it. Other days you’ll sound like you’re trying to impress your college professor.
The key is practice. The more you write, the more your authentic voice will shine through.
If you’re struggling to know how much of your natural communication style to leave in or filter out, fill in the form below to download my free workbook to see if you are playing it too safe with your brand voice.
