Your Voice as a Writer
Voice is perhaps the most nebulous quality of an author’s writing—but it is the quality that agents, publishers, and readers often say they are hunting for when perusing new titles to pick up. As a novice writer, this can be frustrating—with so much riding on smoke and sunbeams. So you ask for clarification—but the subsequent “I know it when I read it” remarks don’t really help. In my sojourns to various writing blogs, I found few articles on the subject—but I did uncover a few rare gems. Below, you will find a list of these voice links for writers. Some of these links will take you out to the websites of famous authors. Others (in green) will take you to my personal posts on voice.
Note: A few writing books, such as Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, mention a key fact—while many readers like a strong voice, some find it distracting, and prefer a read that is transparent, almost devoid of voice. So, before you panic, first ask yourself if your natural talent lies in a distinctive flair, or in writing clear prose with no authorial fingerprints. Hone your strength—either is valid, either can be the gateway to wild success.
Voice Links for Writers
- Voice…or Volume?—By Donald Maass—Posted on WriterUnboxed.com
- Just because each writer has their own voice doesn’t mean it’s being used to “maximum effect.” In this post, Donald Maass explains the importance of honing your language and writing authentically to produce “strong voice.”
- Donald Maass is a literary agent and has written a number of bestselling books on writing—several of which live on my personal bookshelf of writing advice favorites.
- Just because each writer has their own voice doesn’t mean it’s being used to “maximum effect.” In this post, Donald Maass explains the importance of honing your language and writing authentically to produce “strong voice.”
- What’s in Your Secret Sauce?—By David Farland—Posted on MyStoryDoctor.com
- In this article on voice, David Farland explains how to avoid writing a “watery-tasting” novel by adding your own personal spice.
- David Farland also teaches online and in-person seminars on writing.
- David Farland has written books on writing.
- Interested in David Farland’s novels? His “Courtship of Princess Leia” is one of my all time favorites.
- In this article on voice, David Farland explains how to avoid writing a “watery-tasting” novel by adding your own personal spice.
- David Farland’s Kick in the Pants—Poetics—David Farland—Posted on MyStoryDoctor.com
- Voice is a thing of fine nuance—word choice, and the cadence of punctuation. In this post, David Farland explores poetic attention to detail, and polishing your prose till it glows.
- Writing Skills: Strong Voice—The Kudzu You Cultivate—By Maren True
- Do you have a strong voice? It’s like one of those retinal scanners—or the voiceprint security on your phone. Can others identify you as the author by reading your prose alone?
- You as Seiyū: Finding Your Voice & Owning New Roles—By Maren True
- Seiyū is the Japanese term for a voice actor. How can so many unique voices speak, sing, swear, and swagger from one throat? Sometimes it’s jaw dropping. Writers do the same thing in their fiction.
Re-Framing Voice
- The Difference Between Audience and Market—Mary Robinette Kowal—Posted on MaryRobinetteKowal.com
- “Don’t write to the market” is basic writing advice, but Mary Robinette Kowal looks closer and speaks to the difference between your market and your audience. By visualizing that perfect audience, perhaps distilled into one person of your acquaintance, you can write with a voice tailored just for them.
- For a different kind of voice links listen to writing advice from Mary Robinette Kowal on the epic podcast Writing Excuses. She is also a professional puppeteer, how cool is that?
- Intrigued and interested? Check out Mary Robinette Kowal’s novels and other works of fiction.
- “Don’t write to the market” is basic writing advice, but Mary Robinette Kowal looks closer and speaks to the difference between your market and your audience. By visualizing that perfect audience, perhaps distilled into one person of your acquaintance, you can write with a voice tailored just for them.
- Voice and Structure: A Planner’s Perspective—Juliet Marillier—Posted on WriterUnboxed.com
- What about managing the voices of multiple point of view characters in the same work? How do their voices influence the voice and the structure of the book as a whole? Juliet Marillier explores these questions as they relate to one of her books.
- I love Juliet Marillier’s novels. The prose is incandescent and ethereal—I feel like I’ve stepped into the primordial wild woods of the Europe of yore. If your heart still craves fairy-tales, then it has found a new home.
- What about managing the voices of multiple point of view characters in the same work? How do their voices influence the voice and the structure of the book as a whole? Juliet Marillier explores these questions as they relate to one of her books.
- Where The Light Gets In: Your Flaws + Your Creative Voice—Justine Musk—Posted on JustineMusk.com
- Do your flaws define your voice? Justine Musk illuminates how your flaws not only texture your identity, but how they can define it, and how that is the source of your strength. Out of all the voice links, I saved this one for last since it’s so inspirational.
- See Justine Musk’s TEDx Talk on YouTube.
- Curious about what an uplifting speaker might write for fiction? Check out her novels.
- Do your flaws define your voice? Justine Musk illuminates how your flaws not only texture your identity, but how they can define it, and how that is the source of your strength. Out of all the voice links, I saved this one for last since it’s so inspirational.
Voice, insight, flaws and strengths—as writers we are all unique, and thus we each have our own words and wisdom to share. Return to A Codex Index to peruse more highlights of the vast trove of writing advice on the web.
