Have You Lost Your Voice?
on December 30, 2011 at 11:30 amLost my voice? I’m not sure I ever found it in the first place.
We hear about finding one’s voice all the time (in the land of writers, that is), but just what does that mean?
Here are a couple of definitions: Writer’s voice is the literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice was generally considered to be a combination of a writer’s use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works).
Your unique identity as a writer shown through the topics you choose, writing style and characterization.
Hmm. That helped. It helped me, at least. Defining Writer’s Voice has been—for me—like trying to hit a moving target while blindfolded.
I guess the problem with defining a writer’s voice stems from the same kind of thinking that makes computer programmers and consultants such mysterious creatures. Jargon. We tend to use jargon to set ourselves apart from others, and to make what we do appear more valuable. (Sorry about that. Long-time pet peeve.)
When it comes down to it, your voice is your style. Plain and simple.
But, Mr. Blogger! Where do we get our style? I don’t get it.
Really? OK, now I’m impressed. See, admitting that you’re confused is the first step in understanding. Nice job.
In posts past I’ve spoken of writing a letter late at night in a train car going north from Bangkok to Lop Buri in Thailand. I had been reading Doyle and the combination of a polished wood car, illuminated by gas light, windows open and the aromas of a foreign land wafting in as we jostled along the old and poorly maintained track, came together to change my “voice” just then. It was a magical experience, one that I hope to never forget.
Our voice comes from who we are, how we were educated, what we read, what we think about, and how we relate to our world. Oh, and unless we’ve decided to cast ourselves in plaster—or carbonite—much like the target mentioned above, it is a moving, evolving thing.
To be fair, most writers find a voice, nail it down, and stay with it. Prolific—and well-paid—writers like the late Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and Nora Roberts are excellent examples (and if you don’t see how they can be connected, DO look again), found a powerful and successful voice and stayed with it.
The best thing about being a new writer is you don’t have to settle on a particular voice—not yet, at least—you can play, you can experiment, you can grow.
If I were your writing teacher, I would say this: do not push yourself into a particular “voice” too early. Do not allow yourself to become staid until you’ve taken the time to try on as many voices as you can. Each voice is like a new coat. Try it on. If it doesn’t fit, fine. The trick is to not throw it away, for it may come back into style one day.
Loading ...
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio... and isn't it time you experienced some of them?
Read on one of the discussion forums on LinkedIn that there is available a ‘style’ (prompt?), which like the spelling check on the computer, will check our your style, and make corrections. How ridiculous, I thought. Spelling sure, but style? This is the meat and potatoes of writing as far as I’m concerned; the source of the individuality of a perfeat ‘feast’. I’m certainly not going to spell check my many voices. I will have confidence that style, as you say, will develop in accordance with my abilities as a writer. Good post.
Heh. I often disagree with the grammar and spell checkers. Style? Sigh.
I’m not sure that voice is something to pick and choose. Even voices as individual as Hemingway’s come out of the writer’s natural tendencies. Once you recognize your voice, you can refine it, polish it, manipulate it. But not until it has developed to the point where you’re conscious of it and recognize that this is who you are, as a writer. Actively looking for your voice, especially trying out other writer’s voices, may actually be harmful if you haven’t mastered the basics yet: grammar, pacing, characterization, etc. As you said, voice evolves, but it comes out of how you handle the other aspects of your writing.
Catana! You’re still there! Glad to see you… and thanks for your comment!
Yup, still here. Keeping my eye on you, but nothing to say most of the time. Also enslaved to my NaNo novel. 2/3 through the third draft. Will be serializaing it on my blog while getting it ready for publication.
Wow. Industrious! I’m letting the Tober Chronicles green for awhile, while I do the re-re-re-write of FIVE (last one, I hope). I’ll be anxious to read the serial.
Down to the last two chapters of the third draft now. Started the serialization yesterday. Two chapters a week, Monday and Friday, unless something gets in the way. http://writingcycle.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/privileged-lives-chapter-1/
My general plans for 2012 have already shifted. Next up is the drive to finish editing my 2009 novel. I’m getting tired of seeing it just sitting around, being useless.
Go, go, go, on your editing.