Developing Your Voice
July 8th 2009 23:20
I often see writers on various forums asking the same questions. Usually they're questions about things like chapter length, pacing, character building-all those important things. One of the most frequent questions asked isn't specifically about your story though-it's about developing your voice.
Writers ask 'How does one develop their voice?'
And other writers generally answer 'By practicing.'
It's the truth. The only way to really develop your voice as a writer is by writing. You have to experiment; learn what forms of writing you're comfortable with-novels, novellas, short stories, poetry. You have to figure out what genres you like to write in-again, something you can only really learn by trying different ones. You have to figure out what PoVs are comfortable for you: first, second, third.
All of these things you can only learn by writing. Most of us, when we start writing, emulate our favourite writers to varying degrees-some of us do it consciously, and for some of us it just sort of happens. Over time we break away from these emulations and develop our own writing style, which usually still has some influence from our favourite writers but which has become unique, distinct to us.
To develop your voice, you should write, write, and write some more. Try some prompts, some exercises. Try to stretch yourself throughout various genres. Try playing with different chapter lengths. Different viewpoints. Experiment. Try writing flash fiction and try writing novels. Figure out what works for you.
As you write more and more your own distinct voice will begin to come out of the words, out onto paper. You will develop a certain way of saying things, a certain speed at which you usually say them. Some of us end up with flowery voices-Anne Rice-and others end up with brutal, working-man voices-Stephen King-but most of us are somewhere in the middle.
We all have our own voice. It's not really about developing it, it's about finding it and learning to use it properly.
Writers ask 'How does one develop their voice?'
And other writers generally answer 'By practicing.'
It's the truth. The only way to really develop your voice as a writer is by writing. You have to experiment; learn what forms of writing you're comfortable with-novels, novellas, short stories, poetry. You have to figure out what genres you like to write in-again, something you can only really learn by trying different ones. You have to figure out what PoVs are comfortable for you: first, second, third.
All of these things you can only learn by writing. Most of us, when we start writing, emulate our favourite writers to varying degrees-some of us do it consciously, and for some of us it just sort of happens. Over time we break away from these emulations and develop our own writing style, which usually still has some influence from our favourite writers but which has become unique, distinct to us.
To develop your voice, you should write, write, and write some more. Try some prompts, some exercises. Try to stretch yourself throughout various genres. Try playing with different chapter lengths. Different viewpoints. Experiment. Try writing flash fiction and try writing novels. Figure out what works for you.
As you write more and more your own distinct voice will begin to come out of the words, out onto paper. You will develop a certain way of saying things, a certain speed at which you usually say them. Some of us end up with flowery voices-Anne Rice-and others end up with brutal, working-man voices-Stephen King-but most of us are somewhere in the middle.
We all have our own voice. It's not really about developing it, it's about finding it and learning to use it properly.
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Comment by katyzzz
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MS Paint Art
About voice - I've been going to Church lately, and with just three hymns each Sunday my singing voice has improved, my singing had been quite impaired, I was surprised, however i shall not be applying to audition for the opera.
To ~Dianna, from.....doe, ray, me, far, so, lah, te, doe
Comment by Dianna G
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Very interesting... and no insert-country-here Idol either I should hope. (Those things are awful as it is.)
~Dianna