Friday, March 2, 2012

Finding Your Voice

"I don't think it is possible to give tips for finding one's voice; it's one of those things for which there aren't really any tricks or shortcuts, or even any advice that necessarily translates from writer to writer. All I can tell you is to write as much as possible."
Poppy Z. Brite
 
How do you find a unique and fresh voice? How will you know when you have it? This is the one thing agents, editors, and readers alike are looking for in their reading. Is it possible to give a tip? If so... what is yours?

Enjoy the Journey!
 
XOX Karlene

12 comments:

  1. Keep experimenting. At first you may sound like your favorite authors. It just takes a while before you don't sound so much like them, but have "found" your "voice". It may take another reader to see that you have, too. So keep on getting your work under other people's eyes.

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    1. Excellent advice. I also try to mix up my Genres so I don't find my voice paralleling someone else. Yes..work under other's eyes is essential! Thanks for the comment!

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  2. Finding your voice...this is a hard one. I usually have to throw myself into character. I do spend a lot of time people watching. In a way a writer's like an actor, having to express the characters feelings, emotions and persona on paper.

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    1. Ooooh... I love this. People watching does give a special flavor, especially when you can mix and match the actions and how they express feelings. Thank you so much for the comment and ideas!

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  3. This is a tough one. I write usually in first POV and it really does take a while to figure my main character's voice. I usually just write, write and then something "clicks" and I'm like "Ah, there it is." :)

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    1. My challenge was having 4 women in my book and be able to give them all a unique voice. Maybe there is something to First Person. :) Write. Write. Right! Thanks for your comment Karen!

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  4. Oh my gosh, Karlene, this is exactly what's been in the back of my mind for weeks now. I can feel my 'voice' changing, and that's scary. Taking deep breaths to let go of the tethers to see where this takes me.

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    1. Linda, let it go... flow with it. I'm excited to read your next work because I know your voice. This will be so much fun to see the shift. Thanks so much for the comment and hurry and finish so I can read. :)

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  5. Interesting thing to ponder. My 'voice' has developed as I've written more and more novels. It's something that is distinctly us, something in our style.

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    1. Heather, I think that's the key... writing enough to allow our voice to develop. I don't think it's made over night. It's a process. But when we get it... we know.
      Thanks for the comment!

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  6. When I feel most in tune with my character, that's when the "voice" "works." Hard to describe and hard to teach.

    Nice post!

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    1. This is so hard to describe, but I actually think you got it... when you are in tuned, then it just works.

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