At some point many nonfiction writers asks themselves: how do I sound like myself while still sounding credible? Facts may anchor nonfiction, but voice carries it. Readers don’t only want information; they want to feel they’re being guided by someone with perspective, confidence, and personality. Developing that voice—one that balances individuality with reliability—is one of the most powerful steps in finding your nonfiction style.

“Show, don’t tell.”

It’s probably the first piece of writing advice most of us hear. And it sounds simple enough: don’t state things directly, dramatize them instead. Yet if you follow the rule too literally, your prose will bloat with unnecessary detail. If you ignore it, your writing risks turning flat and lifeless.