Here are the other two links on Voice if you care to read more: : Where’s The Story’s Voice? & Writing Voice–Finding it, Using it.
If writing voices are so individual, so personal, can we mimic another with success? I don`t think so; our individual histories gives us an unlimited resource and that resource gives us our voice. There is nothing fresh or vibrant in the retelling of someone else’s story, unless we add our own emotional spin to it. As writers, we need a point of reference or a way to relate to the events in our imaginations so those events can be expressed in a moving, exciting or entertaining way. A good gossip like a good writer uses their instincts to make these stories come alive, and the grapevine game proves that old stories can be reborn into something completely different.
Writing is a learning process; some find it more difficult and more satisfying than others. Digging deep in our emotional vault, or memories, can be very difficult when life has gone out of its way to build our character. The memories that seemed best forgotten are our best resource–changing us, and breathing new life into us. A pile of steaming manure can change dried up soil into a lush and beautiful garden and in the case of good writing that same pile can bring about insightful and sensitive stories. You`ve probably guessed that I’ve gone through some extraordinary trails, and I`m glad I did because they’ve made me a better person.
Have you ever listened to a really good gossip? They start off slow, and hook you so deep that you’d follow them to hell and back to get every last detail. And how many times have they told the story–hundreds, maybe thousands of times? With each telling it gets bigger, more dramatic, and better–so much better. The local gossip uses their voice and we have ours.
How did the gossip do it? Putting themselves in the story made it their own, and using their compassion, outrage, shock, or anger, they set the hook. Through their passionate reaction to what happened, and our empathy, we connect with them. It draws us together and lets us experience the story as one entity. We might both be outsiders and never experienced the events first hand but, we know how we’d feel about it.
No human being can experience everything, yet on a whim writers can write about anything they like. How can we do this with believable insight or spark of realism? Interviews, research, or imagining what might happen are some methods. There are tricks that I’ll keep to myself for now. All you need to know is each time you write, you do a little better.
The next time you want to try using another’s voice think about the grapevine–you know the game where there is a long line of people and someone whispers a sentence into the first ear and the message is passed on down the line. The last person says the sentence aloud, and its never right. Don’t repeat someone else’s story; instead, tell your own–passion and all.
Well said! Do you realize you just applied what you described in your article? I’m not an author but the points you made were felt when I read this. Saving this for when I’m writing my posts. Will be very helpful:)
Writing is writing. It applies to letters, emails, and blogs too.
Thank you Laura for saying I showed by example. That is the biggest compliment I’ve had in a while. 🙂
Reblogged this on Cloud Nine Girl and commented:
Happy Tuesday all! Sharing a brilliant blog by my lovely friend Anna. 🙂
Love it Anna. Reblogged. E
Yes I saw that. Wow. You’re my first. ::beaming at you::
Thank you. 🙂
Excellent post! So true about the gossip thing and when you put writing in these terms, it seems so easy, kind of like watching Davis and White skate that amazingly difficult ice dance that won them the Gold medal. When done right, it always looks easy, but there is a lot of blood sweat and tears behind each successful writer and his/her process.
Exactly and think of all the practice it took to make it look that easy. 🙂
It really isn’t much different from someone else reading the same story, how they pronounce things, how they pause for effect, it can all make a story different and new. I would imagine rewriting one would be the same way, even if you were the person who wrote it first.
Writing is hard, I really do admire those that can and that do it effortlessly.
I’ve read enough children stories to know this, but it took you to make me to see it. Thanks, you’ve captured exactly what I mean. 🙂
So true…fantastic post.
Thanks. ::smiling wide enough to hurt my face:: You’re a doll.
great post, Em! 🙂 I really love the grapevine example..:) Very true about writing being a process. The more we practice the better we become.
Thanks, Cece. I’m hoping to help some newbies. 🙂
Excellent post. Thanks, Anna.
You are welcome. 🙂
So true. Love it. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks so much, Jen. 🙂
Another good post Em. Love your spin on finding your inner writing voice. I love mine, it’s always so much more serious than I can attempt to be in rl!
Mine changes for every story, so I like mine too. 🙂
Once, I tried to emulate another writer’s voice (as an exercise) and I found I simply couldn’t. My own voice kept creeping in there.
That’s my point exactly. We can’t help it, so we might as well go with it. 🙂
Pingback: Writing Voice–Finding it, Using it | Shout With Emaginette
Pingback: Where’s The Story’s Voice? | Shout With Emaginette