I am not a storyteller at parties. There was no time for listening at my Iowa farm kitchen table when I was a kid. When someone actually turns to face me when I speak, I question every word I say. So I write. Finding my voice is a deep mining through all the lives I've lived. Your insights, Grant, and these book recommendations inspire me to keep digging - thank you!
Love this: "Finding my voice is a deep mining through all the lives I've lived." And I love the idea that voice isn't static, but something you have to keep digging for.
I’m reading “Clean” by Alia Trabuccco Zerán and this small book beautifully illustrates what you say about voice. It is one long confession and I’m hooked! I dream of writing a book like that one day. But will try your prompt for a short story first. Thank you.
I love this: “But here’s something to remember: we develop our voices through others — as people and as writers — and originality is nothing more than an odd blend of all of those voices that we decide to put in the mixer of ourselves.”
And of course, the great Nora is one of those most influential voices I added in my mixer! I found myself wanting to emulate her voice as soon as I read some of her essays.
Thanks, Alison. There's this idea of a single, pure, original voice that we all have (or don't have), and I think that's such a flawed notion. We create our voices, consciously and unconsciously. I love when a strong voice like Nora's is the end result.
In my book, Finding Your Writers Voice, I defined voice as "who you are and how you expres that artistically". There are "who you are" exercises, and "how you express that artistically" exercises. But they only begin to home in on the alchemy!
“Voice is the song of your literary soul. “ This line instantly acted on me as a writing prompt. I grabbed my sketch book and took a five-minute break from your column to “sing” a lovely little ditty. Thanks!!
I've always had a difficult time defining what voice is, and I still do in some ways. But one epiphany was that it's not style, but ... as you say, it gives rise to style.
This: “What writers hear when they are trying to write is something more like singing than like speaking. Inside your head, you’re yakking away to yourself all the time. Getting that voice down on paper can be a depressing experience. When you write, you’re trying to transpose what you’re thinking into something that is less like an annoying drone and more like a piece of music.”
I haven't written about it more. It's such a tough thing to teach, isn't it? Tough to describe. Tough to achieve. And then our voice changes. It's all mysterious (as it should be).
I am not a storyteller at parties. There was no time for listening at my Iowa farm kitchen table when I was a kid. When someone actually turns to face me when I speak, I question every word I say. So I write. Finding my voice is a deep mining through all the lives I've lived. Your insights, Grant, and these book recommendations inspire me to keep digging - thank you!
Love this: "Finding my voice is a deep mining through all the lives I've lived." And I love the idea that voice isn't static, but something you have to keep digging for.
I’m reading “Clean” by Alia Trabuccco Zerán and this small book beautifully illustrates what you say about voice. It is one long confession and I’m hooked! I dream of writing a book like that one day. But will try your prompt for a short story first. Thank you.
Oh, wow, I'll have to read that book--for its illustration of voice alone. Thanks for letting me know.
I love this: “But here’s something to remember: we develop our voices through others — as people and as writers — and originality is nothing more than an odd blend of all of those voices that we decide to put in the mixer of ourselves.”
And of course, the great Nora is one of those most influential voices I added in my mixer! I found myself wanting to emulate her voice as soon as I read some of her essays.
Thanks, Alison. There's this idea of a single, pure, original voice that we all have (or don't have), and I think that's such a flawed notion. We create our voices, consciously and unconsciously. I love when a strong voice like Nora's is the end result.
For me, this is critical: "Committed to what you’re saying. Committed to how you’re saying it. These are key building blocks of voice."
I think so, too. It's like being an actor. You can't half-ass it. You have to go deep.
Love this! Thank you.
Thanks, Nina!
In my book, Finding Your Writers Voice, I defined voice as "who you are and how you expres that artistically". There are "who you are" exercises, and "how you express that artistically" exercises. But they only begin to home in on the alchemy!
Thanks, Thaisa! I'm going to check out the exercises. "Alchemy" is the right word for the connection of the two.
“Voice is the song of your literary soul. “ This line instantly acted on me as a writing prompt. I grabbed my sketch book and took a five-minute break from your column to “sing” a lovely little ditty. Thanks!!
Thanks, and ... keep singing!
Yes---voice isn't style. It's the fire that gives rise to style! Each voice is as unique as a thumbprint!
I've always had a difficult time defining what voice is, and I still do in some ways. But one epiphany was that it's not style, but ... as you say, it gives rise to style.
This: “What writers hear when they are trying to write is something more like singing than like speaking. Inside your head, you’re yakking away to yourself all the time. Getting that voice down on paper can be a depressing experience. When you write, you’re trying to transpose what you’re thinking into something that is less like an annoying drone and more like a piece of music.”
I'm really interessted in your views on voice. Have. you written about it more?
I haven't written about it more. It's such a tough thing to teach, isn't it? Tough to describe. Tough to achieve. And then our voice changes. It's all mysterious (as it should be).