Taking all of this into consideration, I have been thinking a lot about writing voice. I’ve found that reading A LOT helps me to develop my voice, my style. With reading other authors, you can see what you like about their writing voice and what you may not like as much. Like I said, I really liked Elizabeth’s voice, however, it doesn’t lend itself easily for my book. It has given me some ideas, though, of how I can polish my manuscript and make it even better.
So on this “What I’ve Learned Wednesday, I am going to suggest that you read a lot and study how other authors relay their voice to you through their stories. You may even want to do the same with blogs. I’ve found some way awesome voices through the blogs I that frequent (ie: Carrie Harris & Kiersten White). This may help improve your own voice with the added benefit of eating up a good story at the same time.
So tell me, how do you cultivate your own writing voice? And which author’s writing voices do you absolutely love?
I've got two authors whose voices I absolutely love. The first is Kurt Vonnegut, with his middle America, mildly crotchety old man style. He's got a very personable voice that feels like an old friend telling you about what happened to him last year while you sip lemonade in the living room together.
ReplyDeleteMy other favorite is Allen Ginsberg. I think he's a master of powerful, vivid language and weaves images not only with the words themselves, but with the sound and the rhythm of the words together.
Rob - I liked how you described those two author's voices. I think I could eat them up too.
ReplyDeleteOh, this topic of voice is a sore one for me for reasons I won't get into. (I'm actually going to do a blog post on this as well in a few days--still working on it).
ReplyDeleteYep, we have to have voice. We have to cultivate it and develop it. It's what sets us apart from the regular joes out there. Agents even say they are looking for new voices, something fresh, something different.
I think the best advice, is to be honest in our writing. Truthful. Our voice will show up in that.
Love meeting fellow Utahns (I'm up in the Davis area). New follower. Utah writers are awesome.
Oh, hey. I just saw that you're reading the Replacement over there--->
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think. I've heard mixed reviews. Thanks.
Angela - I am so glad to have you here on my blog now. Yah for writers from Utah! I'll let you know what I think of The Replacement. I'm sort in a I-can't-get-myself-in-the-mood-to-read mode. I will try to hunker down and read.
ReplyDeleteVoice is tough. I am still working on it. My book is pretty dark. I am relatively a happy person. It is tough to have my voice ring through the book when I am not particulary dark. Dark ideas tend to be what I write though. So contradictory, right? Hmmm. I will survive. Look forward to your voice post.Thanks!
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