Comments on: Voice 101

By: Laura Droege

Laura Droege — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:28:46 +0000

I love reading books where the author or the POV characters (depends on the story) has a strong voice. The stories that DON’T have that voice simply don’t hold my attention, or even catch it, in some cases. Thanks for setting out the components of a good “voice” so concisely!
.-= Laura Droege´s last blog ..Happy Holidays: Let’s Abolish Christmas =-.

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By: Inkylas

Inkylas — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:22:26 +0000

Thanks for a great post. I am all ears for voice now.

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By: Karen Amanda Hooper

Karen Amanda Hooper — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:31:52 +0000

Great post. Though I still don’t know how to create that “original voice” every agent is looking for. It’s like the 8th winder of the world. lol.
My blog

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By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:29:41 +0000

A very modern approach to voice, Juliet. At one time, people spoke of voice as being the property of the writer, which could immediately identify the author of a work. That was certainly true a century ago and earlier – you can pick up any work by Dickens, Austen or Kipling and immediately know who wrote it. The author’s own voice was often intrusive, and that’s Ok if the work is intended to be read aloud, as many books were in those days.

But today’s readers are solitary and are looking for an immersion experience. Authors are therefore expected to use many voices, depending on the work and the characters. I think the best books being written today are, like those in your examples, using first person or a very close third POV, either of which, if well done, render the author invisible. So every author must have many voices and be able to move fom one to another with ease, even within the one work if s/he is using multiple viewpoints.

I wonder if we will ever return to the days of the fly-on-the-wall author, who head-hopped at will and passed comment on what was happening in the story? It seems unlikely, but one never knows – fashions change in writing as in everything else. But for now, I am really happy that we have the Abercrombies and the Careys and the Lanagans and the Marilliers to give us stories for our times.
.-= Satima Flavell´s last blog ..Reading, 2009 =-.

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By: Victoria Janssen

Victoria Janssen — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:57:46 +0000

Great post, thank you.

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By: Dara

Dara — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:54:02 +0000

Thanks for this! I’m still working on trying to find my voice. I can see it in some aspects of my writing, but much of it is still being dragged down by whatever inhibitions I have.

Thnaks for the tips; I’m sure they will help me get one step closer to “finding it.”
.-= Dara´s last blog ..Working Out =-.

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By: dirtywhitecandy

dirtywhitecandy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:02:46 +0000

Well described. I find it’s easiest to think of voice as a personality who is ‘presenting’ the story.

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By: Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Debbie Ridpath Ohi — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:59:29 +0000

One of the aspects that drew me to -your- books was the wonderful voice. Thank you for sharing these tips, Juliet!

Debbie
.-= Debbie Ridpath Ohi´s last blog ..iPhone app for writers: Dragon Dictation =-.

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By: Nora

Nora — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:54:11 +0000

I have often thought that my fiction writing comes not from my personal ‘voice’ but from my characters. Several years ago I read a bit of advice (can’t remember where) saying that to understand your character have them write a letter to you. It is amazing how each of them talk to me in their own ‘voice’. Had one crusty old gentleman tell me it was about time I got around to him!

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By: Lydia Sharp

Lydia Sharp — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:41:29 +0000

Excellent analysis! This is a difficult thing to explain because so much of it is dependent on the writer’s instinctive feelings.
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..Rule Breakers =-.

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