How to Find Your Unique Voice in Health Book Writing

You’re writing a health book for a reason: to share discoveries, to help people heal, or perhaps to guide them through a maze of symptoms, science, and self-care. But good intentions are not enough. If your book reads like every other online article, it will be skimmed, set aside, and forgotten.

A powerful way to make your book memorable is to hone your author voice.

Your voice is not just your style. That’s part of it, but it’s more.

Your voice is the signature that makes your words—and the book—uniquely yours. It’s how you combine experience, knowledge, and storytelling.

You don’t have to manufacture the “perfect” voice. In fact, you don’t even want to try, for it will ring false. Instead, you want to uncover and refine the voice that’s already there, inside you.

Voice vs. Style in Health Book Writing

Many writers confuse “voice” with “style.” They overlap, but they’re not the same.

Voice – Your voice is you, the person behind the book. It’s your worldview, your professional perspective, your unique take on health, and more, shining through the words. It’s your personality imprinted on the page.
Style – Your style is your toolbox, the way you select and assemble your words. It includes word choice, pacing, and sentence length. It might mean using imagery and metaphors in lengthy sentences, or writing short, simple, “just the facts” sentences. You can see vastly different styles in the sentences of Hemingway and Shakespeare.

Style can change depending on whether you’re writing for fellow physicians, patients, legislators, or others. It’s even possible to change styles within a single book. When I coauthored DLPA to End Chronic Pain and Depression, we wrote the chapters in a style that would appeal to laypeople. But we wrote the appendices, which were intended for health professionals and researchers, in a denser, more research-paper-like style.

While style can shift according to circumstances, the voice should always reflect you, the person behind the book.

Let’s see how you can find and sharpen your health book writing voice.

find your voice in health book writing, voice versus style

Step 1 – Explore the World of Voice

Studying bestselling health books makes it clear how voice sets authors apart, even when the subject matter overlaps. Here are some voices used by popular healthbook writers:

Dr. Mark Hyman, Young Forever – authoritative, polished, optimistic.
Dr. Michael Greger, How Not to Age – relentless with data, softened by wit.
Dr. Peter Attia, Outlive – rigorous, reflective, sometimes vulnerable.
James Nestor, Breath – curious, narrative-driven, adventurous.
Dr. Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection – warm, candid, emotionally connected.

Five different health authors, five very different voices. Each one resonates because the author voice is clear and consistent.

Study the voices in these books and others. Study, but don’t copy—for a copied voice will feel false.

Step 1 – Explore the World of Voice

Studying bestselling health books makes it clear how voice sets authors apart, even when the subject matter overlaps. Here are some voices used by popular health book writers:

Dr. Mark Hyman, Young Forever – authoritative, polished, optimistic.
Dr. Michael Greger, How Not to Age – relentless with data, softened by wit.
Dr. Peter Attia, Outlive – rigorous, reflective, sometimes vulnerable.
James Nestor, Breath – curious, narrative-driven, adventurous.
Dr. Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection – warm, candid, emotionally connected.

Five different health authors, five very different voices. Each one resonates because the author voice is clear and consistent.

Study the voices in these books and others. Study, but don’t copy—for a copied voice will feel false.

Step 2 – Explore YOUR Voice

Now that you’ve investigated the world of voice, find your voice.

One way to discover your natural writing voice is to speak. Record yourself explaining your material to a friend or patient. Transcribe it.

Repeat the process several times.

What comes through—authority, warmth, curiosity, anger, yearning, whatever—is your authentic voice.

Work with this voice when writing your book.

If your natural voice is warm and supportive, don’t try to come across as a sarcastic critic of the health system.

If, on the other hand, your natural voice is tinged with anger, use it! You can’t use an angry voice to write a supportive book for people who have just lost their loved ones, but you can use it to call for reform in the medical system so people don’t lose loved ones unnecessarily.

You can adjust your voice one way or another, but only a little. Readers will sense if you’ve strayed too far from your truth.

Note: Your voice may change as you record yourself explaining different things to different people. Or perhaps even as you explain the same thing to different people.

If that happens, don’t worry. Keep explaining, recording, and studying the transcripts. You’ll begin to pick up patterns that point you toward your natural voice.

find your unique health book writing voice by taping yourself speaking

Step 2 – Explore YOUR Voice

Now that you’ve investigated the world of voice, find your voice.

One way to discover your natural writing voice is to speak. Record yourself explaining your material to a friend or patient. Transcribe it.

Repeat the process several times.

What comes through—authority, warmth, curiosity, anger, yearning, whatever—is your authentic voice.

Work with this voice when writing your book.

If your natural voice is warm and supportive, don’t try to come across as a sarcastic critic of the health system.

If, on the other hand, your natural voice is tinged with anger, use it! You can’t use an angry voice to write a supportive book for people who have just lost their loved ones, but you can use it to call for reform in the medical system so people don’t lose loved ones unnecessarily.

You can adjust your voice one way or another, but only a little. Readers will sense if you’ve strayed too far from your truth.

Note: Your voice may change as you record yourself explaining different things to different people. Or perhaps even as you explain the same thing to different people.

If that happens, don’t worry. Keep explaining, recording, and studying the transcripts. You’ll begin to pick up patterns that point you toward your natural voice.

Step 3 – Find Your “Why”

Now that you’ve explored your natural voice, ask yourself a key question: Why are you writing a health book? And why this particular book? Is it:

To share a breakthrough that can help millions?
To offer guidance to people receiving a diagnosis you yourself have faced?
To make money?
To position yourself as a leader in your field?
To accompany your online course?
To warn readers about misinformation?
To position yourself for a better job?
To reform the health profession?

When your “why” is clear, your writing voice automatically sharpens. Without a strong “why,” your book risks drifting into generic health advice.

Try this quick exercise: Write three sentences that capture your motivation. For example:

“I want to empower people with autoimmune conditions.”
“I want to simplify nutrition science for busy parents.”
“I want to demystify biohacking for older adults.”

Write your three sentences, think about them overnight, then rewrite them. Repeat this process until you’re sure they perfectly capture your “why.” Then, treat these sentences as anchors that will help you stay authentic throughout your writing.

Step 3 – Find Your “Why”

Now that you’ve explored your natural voice, ask yourself a key question: Why are you writing a health book? And why this particular book? Is it:

To share a breakthrough that can help millions?
To offer guidance to people receiving a diagnosis that you yourself have faced?
To make money?
To position yourself as a leader in your field?
To accompany your online course?
To warn readers about misinformation?
To position yourself for a better job?
To reform the health profession?

When your “why” is clear, your writing voice automatically sharpens. Without a strong “why,” your book risks drifting into generic health advice.

Try this quick exercise: Write three sentences that capture your motivation. For example:

“I want to empower people with autoimmune conditions.”
“I want to simplify nutrition science for busy parents.”
“I want to demystify biohacking for older adults.”

Write your three sentences, think about them overnight, then rewrite them. Repeat this process until you’re sure they perfectly capture your “why.” Then, treat these sentences as anchors that will help you stay authentic throughout your writing.

Step 4 – Match Voice to Readers

You’ve probably already thought about who your readers will be. Now that you know what your voice is, think again about who you’re writing for.

This is vital, for a strong voice connects with a specific reader.

Mark Hyman writes for motivated adults looking for longevity hacks.
James Nestor writes for curious seekers drawn to discovery.
Brené Brown writes for readers craving emotional safety.

Who is your reader? Not generally speaking, but exactly. Precisely who is your reader? What do they fear, hope for, or need most? How do they need to be spoken to? Will your voice appeal to them?

If not, you may have to rethink your subject matter and/or your anticipated reading audience.

Step 4 – Match Voice to Readers

You’ve probably already thought about who your readers will be. Now that you know what your voice is, think again about who you’re writing for.

This is vital, for a strong voice connects with a specific reader.

Mark Hyman writes for motivated adults looking for longevity hacks.
James Nestor writes for curious seekers drawn to discovery.
Brené Brown writes for readers craving emotional safety.

Who is your reader? Not generally speaking, but exactly. Precisely who is your reader? What do they fear, hope for, or need most? How do they need to be spoken to? Will your voice appeal to them?

If not, you may have to rethink your subject matter and/or your anticipated reading audience.

Step 5 – Sharpen Your Author Voice

By this point, you have discovered your unique health book voice. But it may still be a bit cloudy. You can refine your voice by practicing, practicing, practicing!

Here are some exercises that will help you polish your voice until it sparkles:

The Two-Page Letter – Write directly to your ideal reader, as if she were sitting across the table from you.
The Science/Story Flip – Rewrite a study as both a clinical abstract and a story. Let your style shift depending on the audience, but remain true to your voice.
The Vulnerability Test – Share a personal challenge, then refine until it feels genuine but not overexposed.

Step 5 – Sharpen Your Author Voice

By this point, you have discovered your unique health book voice. But it may still be a bit cloudy. You can refine your voice by practicing, practicing, practicing!

Here are some exercises that will help you polish your voice until it sparkles:

The Two-Page Letter – Write directly to your ideal reader, as if she were sitting across the table from you.
The Science/Story Flip – Rewrite a study as both a clinical abstract and a story. Let your style shift depending on the audience, but remain true to your voice.
The Vulnerability Test – Share a personal challenge, then refine until it feels genuine but not overexposed.

Step 6 – Test Your Author Voice

When you’ve finished the first draft of your health book, hire beta readers to review your manuscript. Ask them how you come across, which will tell you how your voice is landing. Are you a teacher, a coach, a guide, a friend, a critic?

Their answers will show you where your voice is landing and whether you need to refine your voice, adapt the text to match your voice, or aim your message at a different audience.

Step 6 – Test Your Author Voice

When you’ve finished the first draft of your health book, hire beta readers to review your manuscript. Ask them how you come across, which will tell you how your voice is landing.

Are you a teacher, a coach, a guide, a friend, a critic?

Their answers will show you where your voice is landing and whether you need to refine your voice, adapt the text to match your voice, or aim your message at a different audience.

What Is Your Health Book Writing Voice?

The science in your book is the map, while your writing voice is the compass. It’s what helps readers trust the journey, believe in the process, and keep turning the page.

Hyman, Greger, Attia, Nestor, and Brown all deliver knowledge. But what readers remember is their unique voice.

When you find yours and match it to your “why” and readers, your health book will do more than inform. It will resonate, guide, and heal.

If You’d Like Help Writing Your Health Book…

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Contact us!

We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, professional ghostwriters and authors with a long list of satisfied clients and editors at major publishing houses.

You can learn about our health book ghostwriting work and credentials on our Health Book Ghostwriter Page.

For more information, call us at 818-917-5362 or use our contact form to send us a message. We’d love to talk to you about your exciting idea for writing a health book!